Monrovia, Liberia – Augustine Kpan Ngafuan, Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, has harshly condemned the George Weah-led previous administration for what he called a practice of “boasting and politicizing” national road projects. He maintains that roads are public goods intended for citizens, not political awards for any government.
During a news conference at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the minister stated that the entire goal of growth is undermined by previous officials’ persistent attempts to portray roads as the accomplishments of a single regime.
“Roads are projects for the Liberian people, and it is the Liberian people who should ultimately be proud,” he clarified. “They are not for President Boakai or any legislator.”
The minister admitted that the Weah government carried out a number of initiatives that former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf left behind, but he refrained from taking political credit. But he disapproved of what he called selective storytelling that disregards governance continuity.
Ngafuan said, “If we start talking about credit, I personally could take plenty,” he remarked, noting that he signed the US$249 million World Bank agreement for the Red Light, Ganta, Guinea border road during the Sirleaf era.”
He emphasized that development occurs in stages throughout administrations, reminding the media that important corridors like Monrovia, Ganta, and Fish Town, Harper were planned and partially completed prior to 2017. “Should we now call them EJS roads, CDC roads, or Ngafuan roads?, “Or should we simply call them the Liberian people’s roads?,” he asked.
The finance minister also cited ongoing projects, such as the Barclayville, Sasstown, and Kpayan road, which he claimed was started under the CDC government but is being advanced by the current administration through budgetary allocations to pay off outstanding debts to financiers, such as the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
“When I came in, one of the first things I inherited was unpaid commitments,” he disclosed.
Using a striking comparison, the Minister likened national progress to erecting a ten-story structure, where each government adds levels rather than demolishing what previous built. The Finance Minister continued, “You don’t curse a building because another regime poured the foundation; if you do that, you will lose that game.”
In addition to roads, he cited health infrastructure and power, particularly the long-delayed new Redemption Hospital project that started in 2016 but is still unfinished. “When it is dedicated, whose project will it be?” inquired the Finance Minister of Liberia sharply. “Once more, the Liberian people’s.”
The minister refuted assertions that people prefer short-term subsidies over infrastructure in response to complaints that road investments don’t address pressing problems.
Roads were the top priority in all counties, including Lofa, Maryland, and the Southeast, according to national discussions, he stated. “Food prices, transportation costs, and livelihoods all depend on connectivity, with better roads already cutting travel time and expenses to southeastern Liberia.”
The minister called on leaders to give up regime-based accounting of development as a last warning against political grandstanding. He explained, “This is about passing the ball so Liberia can win, not about who scored which goal.”
Reported by: Prince Saah
