Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has mounted a spirited defense of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration, insisting that critics are rushing to judge a government still early in its mandate.
Speaking on state broadcaster ELBC, Ngafuan declared that sweeping reforms are already underway — from wages and pensions to procurement, education, health, infrastructure and electricity. “People make the mistake of trying to grade the government as if it has been in office for five or six years. We have not even reached the halfway point,” he said.
The remarks come as Liberia manages one of the largest budgets in its history. The FY2026 appropriation stands at US$1.249 billion, up nearly US$39 million from the initial draft. That fiscal expansion has fueled public expectations that bigger numbers must translate into visible improvements in schools, hospitals, roads and household welfare.
Ngafuan pointed to the rehabilitation of C.H. Rennie Hospital in Kakata and plans to construct and equip more than 100 schools as evidence of progress. He stressed that strengthening public education is personal, recalling his own journey through Boatswain Junior High, Booker Washington Institute and the University of Liberia.
Yet the challenge remains daunting: years of civil conflict and underinvestment have left Liberia grappling with fragile infrastructure and limited human capital.
Public-sector pay is one of the most politically charged issues. President Boakai has convened a Salary Structure Review Committee, but Ngafuan cautioned that across-the-board increases depend on revenue realities. Targeted raises have already been granted in health, with reviews underway for security forces, integrity institutions and the judiciary.
Retirement security is also on the agenda. Ngafuan acknowledged that many workers dread retirement due to inconsistent remittances to the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP). He pledged reforms to ensure pensions are reliable, saying: “We intend to change that. We want a situation where people will look forward to retirement.”
Ngafuan entered the regional wage debate, arguing Liberia’s statutory minimum wage compares favorably with neighbors. Current rates stand at US$5.50 per day for unskilled laborers and US$3.50 for domestic workers, while Ghana, Sierra Leone and Nigeria use different frameworks. He conceded, however, that Liberia must continue striving to raise earnings within fiscal limits.
The minister was blunt about a core weakness: appropriating funds does not guarantee execution. “It is one thing to have money in the budget, and it is another thing for entities to spend the money properly,” he warned.
To tackle delays, government is advancing electronic procurement but admits digitization has brought new challenges. Ngafuan promised fresh measures “within weeks” to accelerate spending while safeguarding transparency and accountability.
Energy expansion remains a national priority. Projects in River Gee, Grand Kru and Sinoe are underway, with the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency leading efforts to extend electricity to rural communities. World Bank data show access at just 32.7% nationwide, though urban coverage is far higher. A US$200 million financing package approved in June 2026 under the Regional DARES programme is expected to boost renewable energy access.
President Boakai is set to chair a meeting of the Economic Management Team, bringing together the Central Bank and key ministries to review fiscal conditions. The government continues to pursue its ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, backed by external financing such as a US$30 million BADEA Road project in Lofa County and a US$700,000 health grant along the Gbarnga-Voinjama corridor.
Ngafuan insists reforms are real, not rhetorical. “For someone to say that this is not progress and that the minister is just talking is unfair. I don’t talk just because I want to talk. We have been working,” he said.
But the ultimate test lies in execution: whether Liberia’s record budget can be converted into functioning schools, better hospitals, reliable electricity, improved roads, competitive salaries, secure pensions and faster public services.
