by CPNTV
GANTA, NIMBA COUNTY – The Government of Liberia officially opened the National Infrastructure Conference (NIC) on Monday, January 19, 2026, bringing together state officials, international development partners, and regional stakeholders to discuss the country’s long-term development strategy.
The central theme of the opening session was the transition away from a total reliance on state coffers to fund large-scale projects. In his keynote address, Ghana’s Minister of Works, Water, and Natural Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, emphasized that government funding alone is insufficient to meet modern infrastructure demands.
Adjei argued that Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and diverse financing models are essential tools for bridging the existing gaps in Liberia’s transport and utility sectors.
Historical Context and Current Vision
President Joseph Boakai, who formally launched the event, framed the conference as a necessary “relook” at Liberia’s development trajectory. The administration’s goal is to assess the state of national infrastructure through three distinct lenses:
- Pre-war assets and their current viability.
- Damage sustained during the civil conflict.
- Post-war reconstruction efforts and their effectiveness.
Liberia’s Minister of Public Works Roland Layfette Giddings stated that the ministry is focused on implementing this new vision to modernize the national landscape, though he did not provide specific timelines for upcoming projects during the opening remarks.
Next Steps: Energy, Telecom, and Water
The conference enters its second day today, shifting from high-level policy speeches to technical panel discussions. The agenda focuses on three primary thematic areas:
- Energy: Expanding the national grid and renewable options.
- Telecommunications: Improving connectivity in rural corridors.
- Water & Sanitation (WASH): Addressing urban and rural access to clean water.
The outcomes of these discussions are expected to inform the government’s infrastructure roadmap for the next fiscal cycle.