The Chief Executive Officer of the Road Fund Administration (RFA), Mr. Ali Ipinge, was recently elected as the President of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA), to serve for a two-year period. RFA Namibia is a member of the Association.
Mr Ipinge took over the reins from Mr Souleymane Traore, the Managing Director of the Road Maintenance Fund of Guinea, at a ceremonial event held on 12 January 2021 in Conakry, Guinea. Prior to this appointment, Mr Ipinge had held the position of ARMFA’s 2nd Vice President since February 2018.
At the handing-over ceremony, Mr Ipinge expressed his delight at the honour bestowed upon Namibia to lead ARMFA, especially during these uncertain and challenging times posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Ipinge noted that the challenges of declining funding from traditional sources such as fuel levies, as well as issues arising from road maintenance backlogs, aged road infrastructure, the increasing cost of road construction materials, amongst others, need a concerted effort from all stakeholders. He further emphasised that his immediate focus will be to strengthen the institutional capacity of ARMFA, expand policy support to member states and improve stakeholder engagements across the continent.
ARMFA is a 34-member, non-political and non-profit continental body established in Libreville in 2003 as a platform and network for sharing experience, knowledge and information on the best practices of financing road maintenance in Africa; supporting the promotion and strengthening of ties between African Roads Funds; and ensuring the sustainability and advocacy with governments and road sector institutions towards adequate financing of road maintenance.
The RFA Board, management and staff therefore take this opportunity to cordially congratulate and wish Mr Ipinge a successful tenure in steering ARMFA to greater heights.
