Monrovia, Liberia – As Liberia hosted the 22nd Annual General Meeting of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA) on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, President Joseph N. Boakai passionately called for greater continental cooperation in road financing, maintenance, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
President Boakai stated that Liberia was honored to host the event at a time when the nation is “undergoing tremendous developmental changes and making great strides in sustainable infrastructure” in front of delegates, government representatives, road fund managers, and development partners.
Boakai, however, commended ARMFA for more than 20 years of promoting coordination of road maintenance throughout Africa, calling the 22nd General Assembly “another milestone in strengthening cooperation, enhancing technical capacity, and advancing regional integration.”
In order to connect farmers to markets, children to schools, and sick to healthcare, he reminded the delegates that high-quality road infrastructure is still essential to Africa’s socioeconomic transition. According to him, roads are “economic and political pillars” that are essential to the advancement of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Despite their importance, the President emphasized that nations still face mounting obstacles, such as the effects of climate change, fast urbanization, and a lack of funding, which jeopardize the resilience of road networks. He also noted that poorly maintained roads present significant developmental setbacks in addition to technical issues.
President Boakai emphasized the dedication of his government to the ARREST Agenda, pointing out that Liberia is working with the National Road Fund to improve road maintenance investments, reforms, and governance.
He explained that roads “weave our countries and cultures more than we think” and that no nation can accomplish this on its own.
Additionally, the Liberian leader reiterated Liberia’s support for the AfCFTA and the African Union’s Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), both of which significantly depend on increased regional connectivity.
The President stated that the Monrovia summit must be a forum for real-world problem-solving and revitalized collaborations, urging delegates to strengthen cooperation, investigate creative finance, and embrace climate and digital solutions.
“Let this be a forum for knowledge-sharing; adding that Africa is at a crossroads where current decisions on infrastructure will shape future generations,” Boakai added.
The President however, reassure the audience that Liberia is prepared to share, learn from, and collaborate with other countries in order to construct the “roads of Africa’s tomorrow.” He thanked the delegates for selecting Liberia and urged them to enjoy the warmth, friendliness, and culture of the Liberian people while they were there.
