To Tackle Budget, Project Implementation Bottlenecks
Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – The Ministries of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and Ministry of Health on Friday, August 7, 2026, convened a high-level “Deep Dive” session aimed at assessing budget implementation and accelerating the execution of key health sector projects across Liberia.
The session brought together senior officials, deputy and assistant ministers, and technical experts from both institutions to review progress under the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) and identify practical measures to address challenges affecting project implementation and service delivery.
However, the engagement was led by Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and Health Minister Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto, who joined officials and a score of technicians for detailed discussions on the performance of ongoing government-funded programs.
According to a release from MDPA, the “Deep Dive” session forms part of a series of strategic engagements initiated by the MFDP to strengthen coordination between government institutions and improve the implementation of the national budget.
During the discussions, officials examined the status of health sector projects under the PSIP, with particular attention to implementation progress, budget utilization, emerging challenges, and areas requiring urgent intervention.
The session also provided an opportunity for technical teams from the two ministries to identify bottlenecks that could undermine the timely completion of projects and the effective delivery of essential health services to citizens.
Officials emphasized the importance of ensuring that approved budgetary allocations are translated into concrete programs and projects that directly benefit communities across Liberia.
The engagement comes amid broader government efforts to improve public financial management and ensure that limited public resources are used efficiently, transparently, and in line with national development priorities.
Meamwhile, MFDP has been promoting closer collaboration among government institutions through the “Deep Dive” approach, bringing policymakers and technical experts together to examine implementation challenges and develop solutions based on evidence and available resources.
For the health sector, the discussions are expected to contribute to improved coordination around investments in healthcare infrastructure, equipment, programs, and other priority interventions contained in the national development framework.
Speaking at the gathering, Minister Ngafuan underscored the importance of effective budget execution and inter-agency collaboration in achieving the government’s development objectives, particularly at a time when ministries and agencies are being encouraged to demonstrate measurable results from public spending.
For her part, Health Minister Dr. Kpoto joined the technical discussions on the status of health-related investments and the challenges requiring coordinated action between the Ministry of Health and the MFDP.
The meeting also highlighted the need for continued communication between policymakers and technical teams to ensure that implementation challenges are identified early and addressed before they become major obstacles to the delivery of government programs.
However, participants agreed that stronger accountability and coordination are essential to improving the pace and quality of project implementation, particularly for programs with direct implications for the well-being of Liberians.
The engagement is expected to feed into ongoing efforts by the Government of Liberia to strengthen the implementation of its development agenda and ensure that national priorities are supported by effective budgeting, planning, monitoring, and execution.
Also, the “Deep Dive” initiative reflects the government’s broader commitment to making public institutions more responsive and results-oriented while ensuring that public investments generate tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.
The session was attended by Ministers Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto, deputy and assistant ministers from both ministries, as well as a team of technical experts involved in budget planning, implementation, monitoring, and health sector development.
According to the release, the latest engagement forms part of continued government efforts to advance the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development by strengthening institutional collaboration and ensuring that public resources are effectively transformed into improved services and development outcomes for the Liberian people.
