President Joseph Boakai and Liberia’s Road Fund Manager, Joseta Neufville-Wento

Abubakar Hashim/ Monrovia

Liberia’s Road Fund Manager, Joseta Neufville-Wento, is now among the five female Road CEOs in Africa, but the youngest among them all.

The tasks in a road agency are herculean and demanding. They require utmost stamina and all-around zest. That is why, in all African countries, the entity is male-dominated.

Wento has proved her worth, where some men have failed. When President Joseph Boakai gave her appointment, it was mainly due to her worth and past records.

Recently, she hosted CEOs from Namibia and Sierra Leone to upgrade Liberia’s road fund, in line with international best standards and practices.

She inherited a first-generation road fund that is 100% government-dominated. She is now transitioning to a second-generation fund, with private-sector driven and participation, in line with President Boakai’s philosophy, to implement his ARREST agenda.

The Liberian Road Fund is the only entity in Africa today that is still implementing the old-fashioned first-generation fund model, with its attendant bureaucracy and operational deficiencies.

As the youngest female CEO, not only in Liberia, but in Africa, Wento will also host the upcoming 22^nd annual general assembly of Africa Road Fund Association (ARMFA) in Liberia, from November 17 to 21, 2025. Liberia has been selected to host it.

Wento told TheNEWS: “This selection was finalized after the executive committee met in Kenya and voted between Gabon and Liberia as host countries. Liberia came in highly recommended. His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s office has confirmed to work with us to host one of the biggest international conferences for road infrastructure in Africa, and the Finance Minister has confirmed that the country will host all the CEOs of Africa from November 17-21.”

The conference will attract over 300 delegates from Africa and will surely boost the Liberian economy.

Currently, since her appointment by President Boakai, she has sustained road infrastructure financing and governance, ready to transition into a second-generation model for efficient road administration.

Her international position at the AMRFA put the Liberian flag high in the comity of nations. Her commitment to the road fund, through public-private partnership, PPP, will open up streams of revenues and further boost the Liberian economy.

*Abubakar Hashim is TheNEWS’ West Africa Bureau Chief