By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor
Liberia’s Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has intensified preparations for the country’s next national budget, as officials from key justice and security institutions presented competing funding requests during ongoing executive budget hearings aimed at aligning limited resources with national priorities.
The hearings, which continued Thursday with a focus on the justice and security sector, brought together senior representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Liberia National Police, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Liberia National Fire Service, Liberia Immigration Service, Civil Service Agency, Ministry of Transport and other government institutions.
The annual exercise is intended to evaluate institutional performance, identify operational challenges and determine how scarce public resources can be distributed to achieve the greatest national impact.
Opening the session, Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Ngafuan acknowledged the growing pressure on the national budget, stressing that government must carefully balance increasing demands against available revenues.
According to Ngafuan, the role of the Finance Ministry extends beyond receiving budget submissions to ensuring that public funds are directed toward the country’s most pressing priorities.
“We’ve taken notes on key achievements and issues at your various institutions. We are now in the billions, but even US$5 billion won’t be enough to solve all the needs and implement the plans of spending entities,” Ngafuan said. “We will continue to prioritize the priorities.”
He told participants that while the hearings provide agencies an opportunity to present accomplishments, challenges and future funding needs, compelling requests alone would not guarantee full allocations.
The minister emphasized that every government institution contributes to national development but noted that certain sectors require greater attention because of their strategic significance.
Among those sectors, Ngafuan identified security as a cornerstone of national progress, arguing that economic growth, investment and effective public service delivery depend heavily on a stable and secure environment.
At the same time, he cautioned against viewing security as a stand-alone priority. Drawing a football analogy, he said national development requires coordinated support for multiple sectors, including healthcare, electricity, infrastructure and education.
“How can you focus on security alone when you are not healthy? How can you focus on security alone without electricity? This is like a team,” he said, noting that weaknesses in one sector can undermine progress in others.
His remarks reflect Liberia’s broader fiscal challenge of pursuing ambitious development goals amid limited budgetary space. As the country continues efforts to strengthen institutions and expand infrastructure, authorities are under pressure to fund security, health, energy, education and other critical sectors simultaneously.
Presenting on behalf of the justice sector, Acting Justice Minister Betty Lamin Blamo stressed that the Ministry of Justice’s ability to fulfill its responsibilities is directly linked to the availability of adequate financial resources.
Her comments highlighted the persistent funding challenges faced by justice and security institutions, many of which require sustained investments in personnel, training, logistics, equipment and infrastructure to effectively execute their mandates.
Meanwhile, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency reported progress in strengthening its operational readiness. Acting LDEA Director General Daniel K. Ziankahn, a retired major general, disclosed that the agency trained 131 personnel during 2026 as part of ongoing efforts to enhance Liberia’s response to drug trafficking and substance abuse.
Ziankahn also revealed that the agency had finalized a contract for the procurement of specialized operational equipment.
“We have concluded the contract to procure specialized equipment that will enhance our work,” he said.
The update comes as governments across West Africa continue to confront growing concerns over illicit drug trafficking and the increasing need for modern law enforcement capabilities.
The Liberia Immigration Service also outlined achievements recorded during the year. Commissioner General Elijah Rufus said the institution supplied uniforms to all immigration officers in 2026 and procured 12 vehicles to improve mobility and field operations.
The investments are expected to strengthen border management, migration control and enforcement of immigration laws across the country.
Similarly, the Liberia National Fire Service reported gains in personnel development and service expansion. Director Warsuah Barvoul disclosed that 79 firefighters were trained during the year, while the agency extended operations beyond Monrovia to other parts of the country, including Gbarnga, Bong County.
The expansion is expected to improve emergency response services in rural communities where firefighting and rescue capabilities have historically been limited.
As the executive budget hearings continue, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is expected to use information gathered from spending entities to shape the government’s fiscal framework for the coming budget year.
For justice and security agencies, the hearings offered a crucial platform to showcase achievements while making the case for greater investment in personnel, equipment, logistics and institutional capacity.
Ultimately, policymakers face the difficult task of ensuring that limited public resources deliver measurable improvements in security, public services and economic development without neglecting other vital sectors.
