By James Lahai
Amid mounting socio-economic challenges and opposition concerns over a perceived rise in poverty, Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has described 2025 as a “promising year” under the Boakai–Koung Administration.
Speaking during an interview at his Mechlin Street office, Minister Ngafuan said the 2025 fiscal year represents a historic shift in Liberia’s public finance management, noting that the national budget has moved from figures measured in millions to what he termed “billions.”
He said this transition reflects expanded fiscal space and a renewed commitment to national development.
According to the minister, the year has been marked by strengthened bilateral cooperation between Liberia and the United States, alongside increased investments in critical sectors of the economy.
He pointed to support for the health sector valued at approximately US$124 million, as well as major infrastructure initiatives, including the ongoing Gbarnga–Mendikoma Road project, which is expected to enhance connectivity and stimulate economic growth.
Ngafuan also highlighted reforms in the telecommunications sector, noting that regulatory improvements have enabled interconnection between the country’s two GSM operators, a development aimed at improving service delivery and fostering competition.
While acknowledging that Liberia has not yet reached the level of development many citizens aspire to, the minister maintained that the country is on a better trajectory, with policies increasingly centered on national interest and the welfare of the Liberian people.
