Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has issued a stern warning to government ministries, agencies, and commissions that the era of unrealistic budgeting and repeated requests for additional funding is coming to an end, declaring that entities seeking extra money outside their approved budgets will first have funds reallocated from within their own allocations.
Launching Liberia’s Fiscal Year 2027 national budget preparation process on Thursday, July 23, 2026, in Monrovia, Ngafuan challenged spending entities to abandon what he described as weak planning practices that have undermined budget credibility and disrupted government programs. “We don’t have free money sitting somewhere. If you bring requests for extra funding, the first place we will look is in your own budget. We will go to you to give to you,” he stated.
The finance minister said the FY2027 budget will be built on strict fiscal discipline, realistic planning, and measurable results, warning that ministries must prioritize projects within their approved expenditure ceilings instead of relying on supplementary requests during implementation. He said every budget submission must be backed by credible data, realistic costing, and clear links to the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), stressing that every public dollar must produce tangible benefits for Liberians.
Also, Ngafuan acknowledged that Liberia’s economy is showing stronger signs of recovery, with growth driven by mining, agriculture, and services, while inflation has eased and macroeconomic stability has improved. However, he cautioned that limited resources require difficult choices and greater accountability in public spending. “Our budget is not just a technical document. It is a national responsibility that determines how we allocate public resources and improve the lives of our people,” the minister said.
Liberia’s finance minister identified the government’s priority sectors for the 2027 budget as economic infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare, private sector development, youth skills and empowerment, and strengthening justice and the rule of law.
He also urged ministries to fully activate their budget management committees and send their strongest technical teams to upcoming sector working group discussions, emphasizing that sound planning at the formulation stage would reduce disruptions during implementation.
Highlighting improvements in public financial management, Ngafuan praised the government’s record of submitting budgets on time, noting that Liberia achieved a historic milestone in 2024 when the Legislature passed the national budget before the start of the fiscal year, the first such occurrence in the post-war era.
He said the practice continued in 2025, improving predictability and budget execution. The Finance Minister also celebrated what he described as unprecedented domestic revenue growth under the Boakai administration. According to him, Liberia generated nearly US$700 million in domestic revenue in 2024, a national record at the time, before surpassing that figure with more than US$840 million in 2025.
He said the strong revenue performance gave the government confidence to submit a US$1.2 billion national budget for 2026 despite criticism from skeptics who dismissed the target as unrealistic. “We were called phantom economists and even voodoo economists. But by the grace of God, we are on course to meet our revenue target,” Ngafuan narrated.
Using a biblical analogy, the finance minister warned ministries against withholding critical priorities during budget preparation, saying finance ministry officials would challenge incomplete submissions just as the prophet Samuel questioned whether Jesse had presented all of his sons before David was eventually chosen.
“If you leave your David on the farm and don’t include him in your budget, we will ask, ‘Are these all your children?’ We know some of your priorities, and if necessary, we will put David back into the budget,” he said.
Ngafuan concluded by urging all government institutions to treat the budget formulation process with seriousness, transparency, and urgency, insisting that disciplined planning today is essential to delivering the President’s development agenda and ensuring every public dollar achieves maximum impact for the Liberian people.
