-Fuel, Food, Scratch Cards Top Hundreds of Mentions as Advocate Kollie Say Document Is “Clay Painted Gold”
By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
Liberia’s proposed US$1.2 billion national budget, hailed by some government officials as a milestone of economic growth, has sparked intense public debate following revelations that a significant portion of allocations is tied to recurrent and consumption-heavy expenditures.
According to Martin K. N. Kollie, a Liberian Exile advocate, the draft budget shows that fuel for generators appears 181 times, food 134 times, scratch cards 119 times, entertainment 61 times, and consultancy services 41 times across various line items.
“Big Shots’: Fuel for Generator” is mentioned 181 times, Food is mentioned 134 times. Scratch Cards 119 times.bEntertainment 61 times. Consultancy 41 times.
The $1.2 billion budget appears to be a gold. But it’s actually a clay covered with gold paint”, Kollie posted on his Facebook page.
Kollie lamented that, “The budget looks like gold, but it is actually clay covered with gold paint,” describing the allocations as reflective of longstanding issues of inefficiency, leakage, and limited accountability.
This budget has since been under serious scrutiny by the opposition community including some fanatic of this government.
Amara Konneh, Senator of Gbarpolu County has said that the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 has revealed initial contradictions that hampers its credibility and development.
“This budget expansion must be focused and disciplined, as the FY2026 budget reveals initial contradictions that threaten its credibility and developmental impact,” senator Konneh said.
He further emphasized that “the FY2026 budget should go beyond incremental increase and align strategically with the Agenda for Inclusive Development, (AAID) with priorities to ensure that fiscal expansion yields inclusive, sustainable development outcomes that foster economic growth and create jobs for our citizens”.
Critics have further argued that the impressive overall figure of US$1.2 billion may be misleading, noting that much of the funding is absorbed by operational costs rather than development-driven investments”.
The frequency of these entries has raised concerns about fiscal discipline and the government’s spending priorities at a time when citizens continue to grapple with rising living costs, inadequate health services, and persistent infrastructure challenges.
Martin Kollie and others have noted that recurrent expenditure is expected in any national budget, but the disproportionate emphasis on items such as fuel, food, and scratch cards suggests that government ministries and agencies remain heavily consumption-driven.
They warn that without strong oversight and strategic reprioritization, the country risks undermining its development goals.
Lawmakers are expected to debate the draft budget in the coming weeks whereas, some have already hinted about the need for significant revisions to ensure that spending aligns with national priorities and produces tangible results for ordinary Liberians but, whether it wouldn’t end like in several instances.
