The New Dawn Liberia | Truly Independent

The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) President Dr. Donald Kaberuka has lauded Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan for his “successful stewardship” as Minister of Finance.

In a letter of congratulations to the Foreign Minister dated March 7, 2012, on which Finance Minister Amara Konneh was copied, Dr. Kaberuka expressed sincere appreciation for Minister Ngafuan’s invaluable contribution to the consolidation of good relations between the Bank and Liberia during his tenure as Minister of Finance.

Dr. Kaberuka also lauded the fruitful cooperation that exists between Liberia and the Bank, praising Minister Ngafuan for his “contribution, constant goodwill and exemplary support” to the work of the Bank.

Dr. Kaberuka congratulated Minister Ngafuan for his elevation to the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, wishing him success in his new portfolio.  Concluding, the AfDB President renewed his Bank’s commitment to further improve cooperation with Liberia. Foreign Minister Ngafuan in his last capacity as Minister of Finance also served as Liberia’s Governor on the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, during his tenure as Finance Minister, Foreign Minister Ngafuan served as Chairman of AfBD Constituency comprising Liberia, Ghana, Gambia, Sudan and Sierra Leone, and was among four African Finance Ministers who lobbied with donors for the successful replenishment of the African Development Fund (ADF-12).

It can be recalled that in a letter of appreciation dated November 29, 2010 to Minister Ngafuan after the consultative meetings, ADB President Donald Kaberuka wrote, “The timely and succinct intervention you made during these meetings helped the Bank present a strong case for the selected and focused areas of intervention under the ADF-12.”

Dr.  Kaberuka informed Minister Ngafuan that with his assistance, the ADF Deputies agreed on a replenishment level of US$9.5 billion for the next three years from 2011 to 2013. The amount, according to the AfDB President amounted to a 10.6 percent increase in donor contributions over the ADF-11.

During the tenure of former Finance Minister Ngafuan, the AfDB took a giant step in strengthening its relationship with Liberia by opening a Country Office in Monrovia.