Monrovia, Liberia – The recent transfer of US$937,000 from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to the Government of Liberia’s Consolidated Account, according to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, was a continuation of a decision made during the previous George Weah-led administration rather than a new policy.
According to sources at the Finance Ministry, the sum was legally transferred to the Central Bank of Liberia on July 3, 2025, and reflects the remaining funds from the contentious 2020 COVID-19 Emergency Food Assistance Program. The Home-Grown School Feeding Program, a nationally coordinated initiative to provide school-age children with locally grown food, is the beneficiary of the rerouted monies, officials revealed.
Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan was never the one to start or redefine the reallocation, according to ministry officials, amid allegations that he was involved. The National COVID-19 Food Assistance Steering Committee, a multi-stakeholder group formed during the pandemic’s peak and then chaired by the then-Minister of Commerce, instead recommended a 2022 policy that led to the decision.
A top Finance Ministry official stated that the public should realize that this was not a new move. Simply put, the Weah administration left Minister Ngafuan a standing policy proposal that was supported by a number of ministries, development partners, and civil society players.
In a publication by The Liberian Investigator: The National Steering Committee, which included representatives from the Ministries of State, Finance, Justice, Agriculture, and Education, Press Union of Liberia, among others, concluded in its final review that the remaining balance from the over US$25 million food assistance package should be redirected to improve nutrition for schoolchildren. This, according to documents was viewed as a sustainable way to use the leftover funds while supporting local agriculture.
Out of the total unspent amount, about US$234,000 was retained for final implementation activities by the WFP, while US$937,000 has now been returned to the Liberian government. The Finance Ministry has indicated that the amount is being “ring-fenced” to ensure it is used solely for the school feeding program.
The present administration’s officials are exercising caution and stressing that carrying out this financial choice is a question of continuity rather than new policy. According to sources, the original objective of the Steering Committee’s proposal was not altered or manipulated.
According to reports, the general elections in 2023 and the ensuing change of administration caused a delay in the implementation. However, the returned money are now being positioned as an essential safety net to continue school-based nutrition in Liberia, since donor cuts, especially from USAID, are having an impact on school feeding programs throughout poor nations.
The Ministries of Agriculture and Education are anticipated to begin implementing the Locally produced School Feeding Program before the next school year, utilizing locally produced vegetables, rice, cassava, and palm oil. In addition to giving pupils at least one wholesome meal every day, the initiative aims to empower Liberian farmers by providing them with guaranteed markets.
Strict financial controls are reportedly being created to avoid a repeat of the controversies during the COVID-19 era. Specialists in agriculture and education will work together to administer the scheme, and all payments will be monitored using specialized systems.
