By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor
Former Finance Minister and current Senator of Gbarpolu County, Amara Konneh has raised alarm over troubling sectoral trends in Liberia’s Draft National Budget for Fiscal Year 2026, urging both the executive and legislative branches to act swiftly.
In a statement posted on his social media page, Konneh highlighted that budgetary allocations over the past three years reveal a worrying pattern.
Social Development Services, he noted, is the only sector showing a negative growth rate, declining by 4 percent in its Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR).
On Friday, November 7, 2025, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) submitted the FY2026 Draft National Budget to the 55th Legislature, amounting to US$1.21 billion. Konneh cautioned that despite the size of the budget, vulnerable populations risk being left behind.
“Last Thursday, disabled Liberians blocked traffic leading to the Capitol and Executive Mansion to demand attention to their plight. We must act to address their needs in the FY2026 budget,” Konneh said.
The senator pointed out that health and education are underperforming compared to overall fiscal growth. While the national budget has expanded by 18 percent, health grew by only 10 percent and education by 8 percent.
The proposed FY2026 health sector budget stands at US$101.7 million, translating to a per capita allocation of US$19.37—well below global benchmarks.
Konneh further criticized disparities in county-level allocations: Montserrado and Nimba Counties receive more than US$6 per person, while counties such as Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, and Bomi receive less than US$1.50.
He warned that this imbalance undermines inclusive development and risks deepening regional health inequalities. Preventive services remain underfunded, while administrative costs are rising faster than service delivery.
According to Konneh, the FY2026 education budget rises to US$132.9 million, but its 12 percent growth rate lags behind overall fiscal expansion. Spending remains heavily centralized, with the University of Liberia and payroll under Fiscal Affairs absorbing more than 60 percent of sector resources.
Early childhood education receives only US$20,000, while national basic education allocations have declined since FY2024.
The Monrovia Consolidated School System expands sharply to US$7.2 million, but this growth is concentrated in the capital. Rural counties, meanwhile, receive less than US$100,000, leaving children in Western and Southeastern Liberia underfunded.
Konneh stressed that this urban bias favors Montserrado County, while basic and secondary education stagnates. County community colleges and teacher training institutes show modest growth but remain significantly underfunded compared to central institutions.
“Funding for higher education has expanded, but vocational and technical education has remained stagnant, weakening Liberia’s skilled workforce and its ability to meet labor market demands,” Konneh said.
“To promote inclusive development, Liberia must rebalance education spending toward equity, foundational learning, and skills development, ensuring all counties and children benefit.”
