• Linsay Smith named CEO of Maifrance Solar in Liberia
• Appointment marks first female head of solar company locally
• Move comes amid low female leadership and limited electricity access

Linsay K. N. Smith has been appointed chief executive officer of Maifrance Solar Limited in Liberia, becoming the first woman to lead a solar energy company in the country.

According to local press reports on Tuesday, March 31, she succeeds founder James K. Smith, who had held the position since the company was founded in 2023. Prior to her appointment, Linsay Smith served as chief operating officer, managing operations and overseeing projects since the company’s launch. Maifrance Solar supplies solar home systems, mini-grids and equipment to areas not connected to the national grid.

While the move reflects an internal leadership transition, FrontPage Africa reported that it comes amid low female representation in executive roles across the country.

According to UN Women, women held 11% of local decision-making roles in 2025, up from 8.5% in 2017. Globally, women account for 32% of full-time employment in the renewable energy sector, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The World Bank estimated that 32.5% of Liberia’s population had access to electricity in 2023. Africa Energy Portal reported access at 52.7% in urban areas, compared with 9.3% in rural areas.

The National Energy Compact for Liberia, the country’s official energy policy document, sets a rural electrification target of 35% by 2030. It states that solar home systems and mini-grids will be deployed to meet those goals. Off-grid installed solar capacity was estimated at 3.4 megawatts in 2023, according to IRENA Renewable Capacity Statistics 2024.

Abdel-Latif Boureima