MONROVIA – Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has departed the country to lead a high-level delegation to the 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB), taking place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from May 26 to 30.
According to a press release issued Saturday, May 24, 2025, by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Minister Ngafuan is accompanied by Deputy Minister for Economic Management, Hon. Dehpue Zuo. The delegation is expected to participate in critical engagements that bring together policymakers and stakeholders from across the continent and the international development community.
A major highlight of this year’s meetings will be the election of a new president of the African Development Bank Group, as the current president, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, concludes his second five-year term. Liberia’s delegation will be actively involved in the electoral and policy deliberations surrounding this key transition in leadership at the Bank.
In addition to participating in plenary sessions, Minister Ngafuan will hold a series of bilateral and multilateral discussions on the sidelines of the main event. Notably, he is scheduled to meet with the Head of the Africa Water Facility on Monday. That engagement will include the Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, Hon. Mohammed Ali. The Africa Water Facility, based in Abidjan, is a major development initiative focused on mobilizing resources to support water security and sustainable development in Africa, aligned with the African Water Vision for 2025 and the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
Minister Ngafuan has also been invited to attend a side event co-hosted by the Club de Madrid, where discussions will focus on “Driving Africa’s Economic Future: Digital Transformation for Inclusive Growth and Governance.” His participation comes in his official capacity as Liberia’s Governor to the African Development Bank.
This year’s AfDB meetings are convened under the theme “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development,” with an emphasis on unlocking the continent’s financial, human, and natural resources to drive inclusive and sustainable growth. Participants are expected to explore innovative strategies for leveraging internal capital and attracting external investment to accelerate Africa’s long-term transformation.
