Hon. Charles Umehai: Championing Energy Access as the Backbone of Liberia’s Digital Future
Monrovia, Liberia — 23 October 2025.
As Liberia accelerates its national digital and financial inclusion agenda, one key figure continues to bridge the gap between policy, innovation, and sustainable development — Hon. Charles Umehai, Deputy Minister for Energy at the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME). His confirmed participation at the 3rd Liberia Digital & Financial Inclusion Roundtable 2025 reflects a powerful shift in national thinking: that energy access is not merely an infrastructure goal, but the cornerstone of digital inclusion, innovation, and economic equity.
Hosted by the West Africa ICT Action Network (WAICTANet) under the theme “Energy Access & Clean Power for Digital Equity,” this year’s Roundtable — held at the ICON 16 Hall, Orange Digital Center Liberia — unites government leaders, private innovators, youth advocates, and international partners to address one of Liberia’s most pressing challenges: ensuring that every citizen has access to reliable, clean power and the digital tools that drive opportunity. Liberia’s electricity access stands at approximately 32.5%, with rural electrification below 10%, limiting connectivity, mobile money operations, and digital learning. As Deputy Minister for Energy, Hon. Umehai has been instrumental in steering energy sector reforms aimed at expanding renewable and decentralized power solutions — from solar mini-grids to public-private energy partnerships. His leadership reinforces the growing recognition that digital inclusion cannot thrive without energy inclusion.
The Liberia Digital & Financial Inclusion Roundtable has evolved into a national platform for policy review, advocacy, and partnership building, linking ministries, regulators, and innovators. The 2025 edition, following the successful Sierra Leone Roundtable earlier this year, introduces the Liberia Digital Inclusion Scorecard 2025–2026 — an accountability framework tracking progress on renewable energy integration, fintech inclusion, and digital resilience. “Hon. Umehai’s presence this year signals government’s active commitment to integrated development policy,” said Peterking Quaye, Regional Director of WAICTANet. “Energy access is no longer a side issue — it is the catalyst for digital transformation and national growth. This dialogue helps align energy and digital policy for measurable impact.”
Hon. Umehai’s engagement also highlights Liberia’s participation in broader regional frameworks such as ECOWAS’ West Africa Power Pool and the Mano River Union’s Clean Energy and Digital Integration Agenda. These cross-border efforts are vital to ensuring that energy reform and digital access evolve hand-in-hand across the region. By positioning energy at the center of digital transformation, Hon. Umehai and the MME are helping Liberia transition toward a sustainable, tech-driven economy. His participation in the “Energy Access & Clean Power for Digital Equity” panel will help chart actionable strategies for improving power reliability, enabling fintech growth, and bridging the rural connectivity divide.“This year’s Roundtable represents a moment of alignment — where energy, technology, and finance converge to define Liberia’s future,” said Peterking Quaye. “The Ministry of Mines and Energy’s participation sends a clear message: that clean power and digital equity are inseparable pillars of inclusive growth.”
As Liberia advances toward universal energy access and a robust digital economy, partnerships between government, the private sector, and innovators like WAICTANet remain crucial. The presence of policymakers such as Hon. Charles Umehai ensures that the national dialogue moves beyond ideas to implementation — shaping reforms, guiding investment, and creating lasting impact.
