President Joseph Boakai Tuesday called on African governments, fund managers and development partners to deepen collaboration and channel smarter investments into road infrastructure, arguing that well-maintained roads are central to the continent’s economic revival.
Speaking at the opening of the 22nd Annual General Meeting of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA) in Monrovia, President Boakai framed roads as the connective tissue of development — linking farmers to markets, children to schools, patients to healthcare and businesses to opportunity.
“When we leave potholes unrepaired or downplay the urgency of a collapsing bridge, we create barriers to the safety and advancement of our people,” he said.
The Liberian leader positioned road networks as indispensable to realizing continental ambitions under Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He said improved road governance and maintenance will not only lower transport costs and speed the movement of goods and services but also attract private investment, bolster regional trade, and stimulate local economies.
Addressing an audience of road fund managers, policymakers and international partners, President Boakai highlighted three main challenges that threaten road systems across Africa: climate change, rapid urbanization and constrained financing.
He urged ARMFA member states to pursue “swift, innovative, and collaborative approaches” including digital solutions and climate resilient designs to safeguard infrastructure and maximize economic returns.
Liberia, the summit host, was held up as an example of national commitment. Boakai pointed to his administration’s collaboration with the National Road Fund and said infrastructure is a core pillar of the ARREST Agenda, a policy framework that prioritizes an efficient, inclusive, safe and climate resilient transport network.
He reaffirmed Liberia’s support for the African Union’s Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and pledged continued efforts to bolster connectivity that will underpin AfCFTA’s potential.
“Let this be a forum for practical solutions where we reflect on what has worked, what hasn’t, and how we can boldly shape the future of Africa’s roads,” the President urged, calling on delegates to move beyond policy talk toward scalable projects that deliver measurable economic impact.
ARMFA — a continental platform that brings together road maintenance funds from across Africa is intended to foster knowledge sharing, build capacity and coordinate road financing.
The association’s annual meeting in Monrovia provides a venue for governments and development partners to align on maintenance strategies that can reduce long-term repair costs, extend asset life and improve economic productivity.
