By: Julius Konton
Amid global financial headwinds, Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has reassured the public that the government remains focused on meeting its major fiscal targets.
Speaking at a one-day “Revenue Dive” session held at the Ministry of Finance, Minister Ngafuan praised the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) for its exceptional performance in helping the government meet and slightly surpass its historic domestic revenue target during a financially turbulent period.
“Last year was extremely challenging, but we managed to raise LRD 698 million in domestic revenue slightly above our target. This is a historic achievement,” Minister Ngafuan stated.
He explained that the total national budget was LRD 738 million, with the government initially projecting to raise LRD 690 million from domestic sources and an additional 40 million from external sources. Despite the difficulties, the LRA exceeded expectations.
“This success is commendable and demonstrates the resilience and dedication of our revenue authority and partners,” he emphasized.
However, Minister Ngafuan also acknowledged that the current fiscal year took a downturn following significant aid cuts from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
“Out of 39 aid-supported projects, only five were retained after the cut. USAID is Liberia’s second-largest donor, and this reduction paints a gloomy picture for our economic outlook,” he noted.
Despite these challenges, he described the situation as a “test of time” for President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration, comparing the economic turbulence to a bumpy flight.
“A good pilot never promises a smooth flight, but he ensures the plane lands safely. We’ve had to tell our people to fasten their seatbelts, but even in that storm, we hit and went above our revenue target. That is worth celebrating,” he said.
Minister Ngafuan also addressed public criticism directed at government technicians, saying while such scrutiny can be harsh, it reflects the vibrancy of Liberia’s democracy.
“Yes, we are criticized sometimes unfairly but we are not deterred. We remain focused on our duties as public servants, delivering results for the Liberian people,” he affirmed.
He reminded LRA staff and other public financial managers that success breeds higher expectations.
“The reward for doing well is the responsibility to do even more. That’s why we’re here to remind and empower you to continue pushing harder”, he re-emphasized.
The Finance Minister urged his team to stay committed, noting that their work affects the lives of over 5 million Liberians across all 15 counties.
“Let’s take our responsibilities seriously. Sometimes the compensation doesn’t match the burden of our work, but we are here to serve. That’s the essence of public service,” he added.
