MONROVIA- Liberia’s upsurge in international relevance is taking a center stage this week with the arrival of the President of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA), Mr. Moussa Essaie Aubin and other national road fund chiefs for the hosting of the 22nd Annual General Meeting of the continental body slated to be held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia November 17-21, 2025. Being held under the theme, “Innovative financing and Sustainability of Road Infrastructure in the Face of Climate and Mobility Challenge in Africa”, the occasion is expected to afford member institutions to take major decisions aimed at consolidating the gains over the period under review and focus on strengthening the organization.
Mr. Aubin, who arrived ahead of the august occasion taking place for the first time in Liberia was met on arrival by Mrs. Joseta Neufville-Wento, Manager of the National Road Fund at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) during which time she expressed optimism for the coming event while also wishing Mr. Aubin and other delegates fruitful stay in the country.
For Liberia, hosting the ARMFA General Assembly marked the largest gathering of infrastructure leaders in more than a decade and is being celebrated as a significant milestone under President Joseph Boakai’s ARREST Agenda, which prioritizes road connectivity.
Key areas of focus for talks between the ARMFA President and Liberian officials are anticipated to include but not limited to exploring innovative financing mechanisms for reliable road maintenance, implementing effective measures to reduce accidents and enhance safety on Liberia roads, encouraging public-private sector collaboration to accelerate road infrastructure improvement, among others.
The NRF, under the committed leadership of Mrs. Neufville-Wento, has been working diligently to improve Liberia’s vital road network. The support and expertise from ARMFA are expected to further bolster these efforts, bringing continental best practices to the national road sector.
Mr. Essaie Aubin’s engagement in Monrovia marks a significant and promising step toward substantially enhancing Liberia’s road infrastructure and solidifying the foundation for economic progress.
Our Reporter who is expected to cover the week-long activities of the all- important conference said other Road Funds chiefs including the CEO of Sierra Leone’s Road Fund, Hon. Mohammed Kallon, have touched down in Liberia ahead of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association Annual General Assembly scheduled for November 17-21, 2025 at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex
The African Road Maintenance Funds Association, also known as ARMFA (or ARMFA-AFERA), founded in December, 2003, in Yaounde, Cameroon is a non-political, non-profit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable road maintenance and infrastructure development across the continent. Its formation was a direct response to the need for more efficient and transparent funding models for Africa’s road networks.
From its inception, ARMFA’s primary mission has been to provide a robust platform and network for sharing experiences and information on best practices for financing and managing road maintenance across Africa.
The institution advocates for sustainable funding options, often promoting the “road user pays” principle (where road-related revenues, like fuel levies, are dedicated exclusively to roads). It works to strengthen collaboration among African Road Funds and supports the transition towards more transparent, efficient, and sustainable “second-generation” road fund models.
Today, ARMFA has grown significantly and continues to be a pivotal institution at both the continental and international levels, driving policy and technical cooperation in the African road sector.