BOMI COUNTY — Women in Gbojay, Bomi County, say financial support from the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) is helping them build small businesses, pay their children’s school expenses, and ease financial pressures in their homes. But they are calling on the government and its partners to extend the assistance to other women still struggling to make ends meet.

By Patience M. Jones,patiencejones@frontpageafricaonline.com

The women made the appeal Wednesday, during a field visit by representatives of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), the World Bank, Plan International, and other project partners to assess the impact of the initiative on local livelihoods.

For beneficiaries, the support has provided more than access to money. It has created opportunities to save, borrow, invest in small businesses and contribute to household expenses. However, women who have not benefited from the program remain a concern for those already receiving assistance.

Oretha Cooper, secretary of the Walekerma Village Savings Group, said the financial support had helped members develop better money management skills and use loans to strengthen their businesses.

Speaking on behalf of the group’s chairlady, Cooper said the revolving fund had helped women understand the importance of saving, investing, and repaying loans so that other members could also access the money.

“Before, some of us did not know how to manage money or operate businesses. But today, this support has helped us learn how to save, borrow, invest, and repay our loans,” Cooper said.

The group has 25 members and received US$8,000 in revolving funds, disbursed in two instillments of US$4,000 each, according to Cooper and the project coordinator.

Cooper said the money had helped members improve their businesses and meet family responsibilities, including their children’s educational needs.

But she said the benefits should not stop with the current group.

“We want you to help other communities and women who have not received this opportunity. We are benefiting from the support, and we want other women to have the same chance to improve their lives,” she added.

Single Mother Uses Support to Feed Her Family

For Satta Massalay, a beneficiary of the project, the assistance has provided an opportunity to earn an income through gardening and small-scale trading.

Massalay said she divided the money between her farming activities and the purchase of goods for resale, allowing her to generate income to support herself and her children.

“I used the money to work in my garden and buy goods to sell. The profit I make helps me solve problems for myself and my children,” she said.

Another female beneficiary also praised the government and its partners, saying the assistance had helped her establish a small business.

The experiences reflect how livelihood support can help women build income-generating activities and contribute to their families’ daily needs.

According to the LWEP Project Coordinator, village savings groups receive up to US$8,000 in revolving funds, while individual enterprises receive grants of up to US$2,500.

The support is intended to help women establish businesses, expand existing enterprises, and improve their financial independence.

Man Says Women’s Economic Empowerment Can Ease Family Tensions

The impact of the program, beneficiaries say, extends beyond business and household income.

Momo Mah, a male community member, said women’s economic empowerment could help reduce financial pressure within households and improve relationships between couples.

Mah explained that when husbands are expected to meet nearly every household expense, repeated financial demands can sometimes create tension. But when women earn their own income, they can contribute to family needs and ease that pressure.

“When a woman starts doing something small and earning money, it brings fresh air into the home,” Mah said. “As a husband, when I see that my wife is doing something to help the family, I also feel encouraged.”

He urged the government and its partners to provide more women with opportunities to earn income, arguing that stronger financial independence could contribute to more stable households.

His remarks highlighted the connection between women’s economic empowerment and efforts to reduce tensions that may arise from financial hardship.

Women Demand Wider Access to Support

Fatu Sonnie, another beneficiary, said the project had helped women generate income to support their children’s education and meet other household expenses.

However, she raised concerns that some women in the community had not benefited from the program, despite facing similar economic challenges.

Sonnie appealed to the project partners to extend assistance to more women so they could also establish businesses and improve their living conditions.

The appeals from Cooper and Sonnie point to a challenge facing community-based empowerment programs: ensuring that opportunities reach women beyond the initial groups selected to benefit.

Government Urges Beneficiaries to Expand Opportunities

Julius Sele, executive director of the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE), said the initiative forms part of broader government efforts to improve livelihoods through small businesses and community-based agricultural activities.

Sele said the program brings together government institutions, the World Bank, and implementing partners to support women and communities facing economic challenges.

He encouraged beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly and demonstrate that the assistance could produce lasting results.

“Those of you who have the opportunity now should demonstrate your ability to do better, so that tomorrow other women who are not part of the group can also have access to similar opportunities,” Sele said.

He also urged the savings group to consider extending credit opportunities to women outside its membership.

Sele noted that while the group had 25 members, the wider community had more than 100 women, making it important to explore ways of spreading the benefits.

His appeal placed responsibility on both project partners and current beneficiaries to help ensure that more women can access economic opportunities.

World Bank Praises Women’s Collective Efforts

Robert Chase, the World Bank’s Practice Manager for Social Policy, said he was encouraged by the women’s experiences and their willingness to discuss challenges affecting their lives.

Chase, who was visiting Liberia for the first time in connection with the project, said he had followed the initiative for years and welcomed the opportunity to observe its implementation in the community.

“I was very impressed to see the way the SASA! group is talking about difficult issues and trying to open up conversations to empower women and the community,” Chase said.

He also highlighted the importance of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), which enable women to save together, access loans, develop businesses, and discuss issues affecting their households and communities.

Chase said the experiences and ideas emerging from Bomi County could offer lessons for other communities across West Africa.

Project Reaches Six Counties

The Liberia Women Empowerment Project is a government initiative implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection with financing from the World Bank.

It supports women’s economic empowerment through livelihood activities, improved access to basic services, community participation, and efforts to prevent violence against women and girls.

The project operates in Bomi, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Montserrado, and River Cess counties.

The Wednesday field visit also included activities under the Rural Economic Transformation Project (REALISE) in Queenie-1 Town, Suehn Mecca District, Bomi County.

According to the Ministry of Gender, REALISE has supported 33 participants in Queenie-1, including 28 members of an agricultural livelihood group and five Community Oversight Committee members.

The farming group has planted 39 acres of rice, with harvesting ongoing, while a community-selected rice mill has been installed and is operational.

The broader field visit was intended to assess implementation progress, hear directly from beneficiaries, and identify areas requiring further action.

For the women in Gbojay, the support has opened doors to small businesses, improved household contributions, and greater financial independence. But their appeal is clear: the opportunities helping some women move forward should also reach those still waiting for a chance.

The experiences shared in Gbojay show how LWEP, under MGCSP’s leadership and with World Bank financing, is helping women grow businesses, meet their children’s school expenses, and contribute more to household needs. Savings groups and community dialogue are also providing spaces for women to strengthen their financial skills and discuss issues affecting their lives.

The challenge ahead is to sustain these gains while addressing the needs of women yet to benefit. For Gbojay’s beneficiaries, progress carries a shared hope: that the opportunities helping them build greater financial independence will also open doors for other women in their community.

Summary:

• A global study found nearly three in every four workers in Sub-Saharan Africa are “struggling,” not “thriving.” In Liberia, that struggle is visible in classrooms and clinics where public servants work through low pay, stress, and poor conditions.
• Teachers and midwives interviewed for this story described low take-home pay, delayed payroll placement, overcrowded classrooms, understaffed clinics, and salary bureaucracy that leaves many exhausted and others walking away.
• Economists and labor advocates warn the cost hurts everyone: weak classrooms and clinics mean weaker learning, poorer health, lower productivity, and a future workforce Liberia may not be preparing.

By Tetee Gebro and Joyclyn Wea, health and gender correspondents with New Narratives

BENSONVILLE, Montserrado County – Before sunrise, Elaine Duowai prepares lesson notes in a house where electricity is not reliable. By morning, she is walking to Euphemia Barclay Elementary School, where some pupils are already missing from the rows of benches before the day begins.

Some stay home because families cannot afford transport, food, or school materials. Others are sent to help parents sell or work on nearby farms. Duowai teaches the children who come. She worries about the ones who do not.

“Sometimes I look at the empty benches and feel weak,” Duowai said. “The children are not lazy. Their families are just struggling.”

The work is also hard inside the classroom: too few materials, absent pupils, children carrying adult burdens, and teachers expected to supply patience when the system supplies little else.

Then there is the pay. After one trip to central Monrovia to correct a salary problem, Duowai said she was told she needed money she did not have to open a new bank account. She returned to school with the problem unresolved and her strength nearly gone. Her husband, also a teacher, died in 2024. She is still fighting bureaucracy to access his benefits. She makes soap at night to feed her family and then gets up at sunrise to begin the school day.

Hers is the face of a wider warning for Liberia. In the latest State of the Global Workplace: 2026 Report produced by U.S. based polling company Gallup, nearly three in every four workers in Sub-Saharan Africa are “struggling” rather than “thriving.” The annual employee study, based on more than 141,000 employed respondents worldwide, also found high daily stress across the region.

In Liberia, that finding shows up in public schools and clinics where workers continue to report for duty while low pay, delayed payroll placement, crowded facilities and weak systems drain the very people expected to keep the country moving. Interviews with teachers, midwives and economists describe a labor crisis that is not only about salaries, but about morale, working conditions and the cost of asking essential workers to survive on purpose alone. Especially when the country’s lawmakers take home as much as $US15,000 a month, more than most lawmakers in wealthy countries.

Duowai is clear about why the issue matters: the classroom is where Liberia’s future nurses, doctors, accountants, farmers, engineers and public officials begin. If the government forgets the classroom, she said, it forgets the people who will one day run the country.

Mary W. Mulbah-Nyumah, president of the National Teachers Association of Liberia, said the Gallup finding sounds familiar. She says low pay and repeated administrative frustration are weakening teachers before they even reach the classroom.

Nyumah taught in Liberia’s public school system for two decades before leading the association. She remembers years when teachers received salaries only twice a year, and only for one month at a time. She survived by trading, relying on food support and taking extra work. She says that old pattern has not fully ended; it has only changed form.

Today, some teachers still wait years to be placed on the payroll. Others are paid but say what reaches them after deductions cannot cover transport, rent, food, children’s needs and the small classroom expenses they often absorb themselves. In schools with too few books, desks or teaching materials, the emotional cost builds alongside the financial one.

Nyumah said the country is relying on teachers’ sacrifice to keep schools open. If too many leave, children lose more than lessons. They lose time, preparation, and the chance to move into adulthood with the skills needed to escape the poverty their parents are fighting.

Public-sector pay in Liberia has long lagged the cost of living. Successive governments have promised to address the problem. The Boakai administration has pointed to payroll verification, a promised $US150 gross monthly salary floor, and civil-service testing as steps toward cleaning up the payroll and reducing “no-show” jobs awarded in corrupt deals. Some of that is happening.

The Civil Service Agency said it integrated 3,406 essential workers in education, MCSS, and health into the national payroll in 2025, including 2,148 teachers and technical workers and 1,050 health workers. But the government’s own 2025 budget said fully absorbing all volunteer workers would cost about $US15 million, far more than the $US2.6 million allocated that year to begin the process.

Nearly two years into the administration, workers interviewed for this story said the reform is still uneven.

Maxim Bleeten and Augustus Walker, public relations officers at the ministries of education and health, did not respond to requests for comment by the deadline.

Jerry Barclay, assistant coordinator and instructor in the Department of Economics at the University of Liberia, said wages are among the strongest signals a government sends to its workforce. When workers are underpaid, unpaid or emotionally exhausted, he said, absenteeism rises, errors increase, service quality falls and productivity declines.

A weak health sector means sick workers may not recover quickly enough to return to farms, offices or classrooms. A weak education sector sends less-prepared students into the labor force. When schools and clinics struggle, Barclay says, agriculture, finance and other parts of the economy eventually feel it.

At Johnsonville Public Clinic, Larwuo B. Walker, a registered nurse and midwife, sees the same pressure from the health side. Six midwives cover shifts that stretch from morning into night for a community of thousands. On some nights, she says, midwives sleep in chairs because there are not enough people to cover the work. Some women arrive in critical condition after delaying care because they were afraid or could not afford to come. Unnecessary birth injuries to mothers and babies that result in lifelong hardships often follow.

Walker holds a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery, but her monthly take-home pay is less than $US200. She has stayed in the clinic because she knows she is often all the stands between patients’ life and death.

Barclay said that is the breaking point policymakers often miss. Purpose can keep people in service for a time, but it cannot pay transport fare, rent, school fees or market prices. When a worker’s income stays fixed while prices rise – as they are now – living standards fall. Eventually, he says, productivity falls too.

Barclay said Liberia should treat spending on teachers and health workers as an economic investment, not only a social cost. If the government says it cannot afford better support for them, he said, it should also count the cost of weak schools, exhausted clinics and skilled workers leaving essential sectors for jobs that offer more dignity.

Nyumah said the teachers’ association will keep pushing salary complaints, payroll delays and volunteer-teacher cases to the ministries. Until then, teacher Douwai will prepare soap at night, wake before daylight, and walk back to school where her students, and the country’s future, depend on her.

This story was produced in collaboration with New Narratives as part of the Investigating Liberia project. Funding was provided by a private donor and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The donors had no say in the story’s content.

Monrovia – The Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA) is pushing for increased budgetary support in Fiscal Year 2027 to accelerate tourism infrastructure development, strengthen destination marketing, attract private-sector investment, and position tourism as a stronger contributor to Liberia’s economic growth.

The call was made during the Authority’s FY2027 Budget Hearing with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) on Thursday, October 8. Led by Director General Princess Eva Cooper, the LNTA delegation presented the institution’s achievements, financial performance, operational challenges, and strategic investment priorities for the coming fiscal year.

The Authority is proposing approximately US$32.41 million for FY2027. The proposed increase reflects the Authority’s intention to transition from institutional establishment to active tourism development, with greater emphasis on infrastructure, destination promotion, tourism investment, and revenue generation.

Presenting the Authority’s priorities, Director General Cooper emphasized the need for sustained Government investment to unlock Liberia’s tourism potential and create economic opportunities across the country.

“We have to be intentional about investing in our tourism sector,” Cooper stated, highlighting the importance of moving beyond identifying tourism opportunities to making the investments necessary to develop and promote them.

The proposed budget increase prioritizes the development and rehabilitation of tourism sites, including Providence Island and other priority attractions, alongside efforts to strengthen Liberia’s destination branding, visibility, and international competitiveness. The Authority also intends to expand tourism product development, package market-ready investment opportunities, and attract greater private-sector participation in the industry.

Additional priorities include expanding tourism education and public awareness to encourage community participation, workforce development, and domestic tourism. The LNTA is also seeking to strengthen tourism inspections, regulatory compliance, revenue collection, and data management while addressing critical operational, logistical, and equipment gaps that continue to affect institutional performance.

The Authority explained that its FY2026 budget largely supported institutional establishment, including securing office space, transitioning personnel, developing the Tourism Strategic Plan, and introducing policies and systems necessary for effective operations.

Despite progress during its initial year of operations, the LNTA continues to face resource constraints that affect its ability to fully implement tourism development programs and strengthen service delivery nationwide.

Deputy Director General for Finance and Corporate Services, Melvin Nye, highlighted these challenges, noting that the Authority was able to procure only one computer in 2026 despite having approximately 150 employees. He emphasized the need for essential operational equipment and increased investment in tourism facilities, including electricity, water supply, and visitor services.

Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine K. Ngafuan, speaking during the hearing, acknowledged tourism’s potential to contribute to Liberia’s economic transformation and commended the Authority for the progress made.

“Tourism is the last in the ARREST Agenda, but it is not the least. It is one untapped sector we are looking at in the transformation of the economy,” Minister Ngafuan stated.

He further emphasized the importance of marketing in tourism development, underscoring the need to give the sector greater attention and support.

On revenue generation, Director General Cooper disclosed that tourism revenue increased from approximately US$7,000 in 2024 to US$15,000 in 2025. However, revenue collection was suspended in 2026, with the Authority currently engaging relevant institutions to address the matter.

Should the suspension be lifted, the LNTA projects tourism revenue of approximately US$500,000 in 2027, subject to the resolution of applicable tourism fees and improvements in tourism business data.

The Authority is also advancing plans for a proposed 2% tourism levy by 2029 as part of efforts to establish sustainable financing for tourism development.

In outlining ongoing interventions, the LNTA highlighted progress on the first phase of Providence Island development, where mobilization and site-clearing activities have commenced, alongside plans for the renovation of the National Museum.

The Authority is also assessing tourism assets across the country to develop market-ready tourism products and investment opportunities capable of attracting private-sector participation and creating jobs.

On destination marketing, Cooper highlighted ongoing efforts to reposition Liberia’s tourism image through digital platforms, promotional partnerships, and engagement with local influencers and content creators. These initiatives include the Authority’s official website and the Unforgettable Liberia platform, which provide information on tourism destinations, attractions, activities, and accommodation.

The hearing also highlighted progress in digital transformation. Deputy Director General for Planning, Research and Development, Dogba Norris, presented the Authority’s digital registration and permitting system, designed to support tourism operations across Liberia’s 15 counties.

The system supports business registration, permitting, revenue monitoring, and tourism data collection, while ongoing efforts to establish a Tourism Satellite Account are expected to strengthen the measurement of tourism’s contribution to the national economy.

The LNTA further highlighted Liberia’s restoration of full membership in UN Tourism after more than 13 years, opening opportunities for technical cooperation, capacity building, and institutional support.

Concluding the presentation, Director General Cooper emphasized that Liberia’s more than 540 kilometers of coastline, biodiversity, forests, historical landmarks, and cultural heritage present significant opportunities for tourism investment and economic diversification.

The Authority maintained that realizing these opportunities will require stronger Government investment, improved tourism infrastructure, effective destination marketing, and increased private-sector participation.

The proposed FY2027 budget remains subject to Government review and approval, but the LNTA says increased investment will be essential to transforming Liberia’s tourism potential into tangible economic opportunities and positioning the country as The Choicest Destination.

MONROVIA –  The Chief Executive Officer of SAPPIMAH Cassava Refining Company, Beyan Flomo Pewee, has welcomed a proposed US$100 million investment in Liberia’s cassava sector but is urging the government to give greater attention to Liberian-owned agricultural businesses struggling to secure financing for expansion.

By Francis G. Boayue

Pewee in a Facebook post on Wednesday,  October 7 said while foreign investment remains important to the growth of Liberia’s agricultural sector, it should not come at the expense of local entrepreneurs who are already operating in the sector and seeking capital to scale their businesses.

“The proposed US$100 million investment in Liberia’s cassava sector is welcome,” Pewee said. “But I have one serious question for the Ministry of Agriculture: What are we doing for the Liberian manufacturers already struggling to raise US$1–5 million to scale?”

His comments come amid growing discussions around investment in Liberia’s agricultural sector, with the government placing agriculture among its key development priorities.

According to Pewee, existing financing mechanisms for local agricultural manufacturers remain inadequate to support businesses seeking to transition from small-scale operations into commercially viable industries.

He argued that grants ranging between US$50,000 and US$200,000 are insufficient for agricultural manufacturers seeking to establish or significantly expand processing facilities.

“We cannot keep giving agricultural manufacturers US$50,000–$200,000 grants and expect them to build serious industrial businesses,” he said.

Pewee pointed specifically to cassava processing, noting that even relatively simple gari or fufu production operations could require between US$1 million and US$2 million when equipment, electricity, working capital, raw materials, packaging and market access are taken into consideration.

He stressed that his position should not be interpreted as opposition to foreign investment.

“I am not against foreign investment. Bring the US$100 million,” Pewee said. “But foreign investment cannot become a substitute for building Liberian-owned businesses.”

The cassava entrepreneur is calling on the Ministry of Agriculture to identify a group of promising Liberian-owned agricultural enterprises and provide them with targeted support to expand their operations.

“Minister Nuetey, pick 5–10 serious Liberian agricultural businesses. Help them access capital, markets, technology and export opportunities. Help them scale,” he urged.

Pewee said Liberia should measure the success of its agricultural policies not only by the volume of foreign capital attracted to the country, but also by the number of Liberian-owned companies that become commercially sustainable and generate significant revenues.

“Agriculture is this government’s number-one priority,” he said. “Then let us measure success not only by how much foreign capital we attract, but by how many Liberian companies we help reach US$1 million in annual revenue.”

He described the development of locally owned agricultural enterprises as essential to achieving what he called genuine economic empowerment and agricultural transformation.

“That is true empowerment. That is agricultural transformation,” Pewee said.

He further cautioned against overlooking local entrepreneurs while pursuing large-scale external investments, arguing that Liberian businesses already operating in the agricultural sector should be treated as important components of the country’s investment strategy.

“We cannot keep searching for the diamond outside while ignoring the one being built here,” he said.

Pewee concluded his remarks by reaffirming his commitment to cassava production and processing, saying: “I’m going back to my cassava farm.”

NEW YORK — Nigerian billionaire and Heirs Holdings Chairman Tony Elumelu has called for a fundamental shift in Africa’s development model, urging governments and international partners to move beyond aid dependence toward trade, investment, entrepreneurship and private sector-led growth.

Elumelu made the call during a fireside chat on the sidelines of the 2026 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where he argued that Africa must take greater ownership of its economic transformation while attracting capital to build sustainable industries and create jobs.

The discussion, titled the Darryl G. Behrman Lecture on Africa Policy, was moderated by Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). It examined Africa’s place in the global economy, entrepreneurship, energy security, private sector development and the future of US-Africa relations.

Elumelu urged international investors to abandon outdated perceptions of Africa as an aid-dependent continent and recognize its potential as a destination for commercial investment and long-term growth.

He argued that treating Africa as a single, high-risk market overlooks the economic diversity and investment opportunities across its 54 countries.

According to Elumelu, international investors can better navigate African markets by forming strategic co-investment partnerships with credible local business leaders who understand the operating environment.

He reaffirmed his philosophy of Africapitalism, which promotes private sector-led development and argues that businesses should play a central role in driving Africa’s economic transformation.

While acknowledging the role of aid in providing immediate relief, Elumelu said it could not substitute for sustained investment in industries, infrastructure and productive economic activities.

He called on foreign venture capital firms, pension funds and development finance institutions to work with local financial institutions to finance critical infrastructure and strengthen trade corridors across the continent.

Youth Entrepreneurship as an Economic Imperative

Elumelu also highlighted Africa’s youthful population, describing young entrepreneurs as essential to the continent’s economic development, security and long-term stability.

He argued that tackling youth unemployment was critical to reducing irregular migration and preventing social instability, urging international philanthropies, multilateral agencies and corporations to expand support for youth-led businesses.

Citing the work of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which has committed $100 million to empowering young African entrepreneurs, he pointed to the provision of $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, alongside business training, as a way to stimulate enterprise development and job creation in rural and urban communities.

He called for greater investment in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which he said could help expand economic opportunities and strengthen local economies.

Energy Access Central to Africa’s Industrialization

On energy security and climate policy, Elumelu advocated a pragmatic and equitable approach to the global energy transition, warning that Africa’s industrial and digital ambitions would remain constrained without reliable electricity.

He noted that more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing governments seeking to expand manufacturing, digital services and other productive sectors.

Elumelu called for Africa’s natural gas resources to be used as a transition fuel to power industries and stabilize electricity grids while investment in renewable energy infrastructure continues.

His position emphasized the need to balance energy access and industrial development with the ongoing transition toward cleaner energy sources.

Rethinking US-Africa Trade Relations

Elumelu also called for a shift in US-Africa economic relations, urging both sides to move beyond traditional concessionary arrangements toward partnerships that support manufacturing, investment and deeper integration into global supply chains.

While expressing support for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), he said policymakers should pay greater attention to the cost of producing African goods and delivering them to US markets.

He also advocated bilateral trade arrangements that could strengthen supply-chain integration, encourage domestic manufacturing and remove regulatory barriers to intra-African commerce as the African Continental Free Trade Area gains momentum.

For Elumelu, expanding trade and investment requires more than market access. African businesses must also be able to produce competitively, move goods efficiently and access the capital needed to scale operations.

He maintained that Africa’s economic prosperity was in the broader interest of the international community, arguing that persistent poverty in one part of the world could undermine economic peace and security elsewhere.

His message was that sustainable development would require Africans to take the lead in building productive economies, supported by international partnerships that prioritize investment, enterprise and long-term economic growth over continued reliance on aid.

GTMS Liberia Inc. has disowned Presley S. Tenwah and Elvis D. Johnson, who it says have been posing as its General Manager and Public Relations Executive. The company says the two were appointed by a self-styled “Director,” Sahr H. W. Ngegba, who has no position in its corporate structure. It insists it has no ties to GTMS-UK, a firm it says is in liquidation and under investigation in Britain, and has warned the public not to deal with the two men. It has also instructed its lawyers to pursue civil and criminal action.

Monrovia – Global Tracking & Maritime Solutions Liberia Inc. (GTMS Liberia Inc.) has publicly disowned two men who have been presenting themselves as senior officials of the company. The company says their appointments were made by a person who holds no position in its corporate structure.

In a press release issued Wednesday, October 7, GTMS Liberia said it had learned that Mr. Presley S. Tenwah and Mr. Elvis D. Johnson had been named General Manager-Liberia and Public Relations Executive & Operations Manager, respectively. The appointments were reportedly made by a Mr. Sahr H. W. Ngegba, who claims to be a Director of the company.

GTMS Liberia said it has no one by the name of Sahr H. W. Ngegba on its staff list or in its corporate structure, “let alone any position of Director held by such person.” The company described the appointments as “wishful thinking.”

Link to UK Firm Denied

At the center of the dispute is GTMS-UK, which GTMS Liberia says is currently in liquidation in the United Kingdom. The Liberian company said it is neither a partner nor a subsidiary of GTMS-UK.

In its release, GTMS Liberia alleged that the appointments were “a brazen attempt to mislead the public” and to conceal what it called administrative failings and financial fraud at the UK entity. The company claims British authorities are investigating GTMS-UK. It also accused the UK firm of trying to use the GTMS Liberia name “to shield itself from accountability.”

Lawyers Issue Formal Disclaimer

In a separate letter dated October 7, AFDASA Global Consultancy Inc., which says it has been retained by GTMS Liberia, wrote directly to Mr. Tenwah. The letter accuses him of “an escapade of misinformation” by “parading” himself as General Manager-Liberia. It says his appointment letter was dated September 10, 2026, and signed by Mr. Ngegba.

The letter, signed by AFDASA’s Corporate Administrative Manager, Joseph Papie Mulbah, says Mr. Tenwah’s appointment was structured under GTMS-UK, an entity with “no direct connection, affiliation, or partnership” with the Liberian company. It calls the appointment “a complete figment of the imagination of Mr. Ngegba,” with no force or effect on GTMS Liberia’s operations.

AFDASA advised Mr. Tenwah and “your benefactors” to stop immediately any actions suggesting he is an official, agent or representative of GTMS Liberia. The letter warned that the company “will not take kindly to any youthful exuberance for undue publicity.” It said Mr. Tenwah should act “to avert future embarrassment and to avoid both civil and criminal liability.”

The letter was copied to Ms. Aminata Bangura, Managing Director of GTMS Liberia Inc., and Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, Global Lead Counsel.

Public Warned; Legal Action Planned

GTMS Liberia warned customers and the public not to do business with Mr. Tenwah or Mr. Johnson in the company’s name “in any form, manner or shape.” The company said the two men “should be regarded as imposters.”

The company said it has instructed AFDASA Global’s Global Lead Counsel to begin civil and criminal proceedings against both men. It accused them of misleading the public and creating “a serious corporate crisis” that has disrupted its operations over the past few days.

The MPC Retains Prudent Monetary Stance While Introducing Targeted Actions to Address Structural Vulnerabilities

MONROVIA– The  Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), has maintained a cautious monetary policy stance while adopting new measures aimed at strengthening the financial system, saying the economy is showing signs of stronger growth, lower inflation and improved stability despite mounting global uncertainties.

Jaheim T. Tumu– jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com

Speaking after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)’s 28 meeting, CBL Executive Governor and Committee Chairman Henry F. Saamoi said policymakers reviewed both international and domestic economic developments before deciding to keep the benchmark monetary policy rate at 16%.

The committee said maintaining the current interest rate would help preserve macroeconomic stability while allowing recent economic improvements to continue. The Committee believe inflation is under control, the foreign exchange market has become more stable and the banking sector remains resilient.

“The Committee resolved to maintain the monetary policy rate at 16%, thereby preserving the current prudent and appropriately restrictive monetary policy stance,” Saamoi said.

The central bank explained that the decision is part of a broad strategy to protect gains already achieved in the economy. Policymakers said a stable policy environment remains necessary to support investor confidence and protect households from inflationary shocks.

“This decision is intended to sustain recent gains in macroeconomic stability, preserve exchange rate stability, anchor inflation expectations, strengthen confidence in the financial system, and support sustainable economic growth,” he said.

While domestic economic indicators are improving, the committee noted that risks from the global economy remain significant. According to policymakers, geopolitical tensions, rising energy prices, commodity market volatility and tighter financial conditions continue to create uncertainty for developing economies, including Liberia.

The committee said many countries in Africa remain exposed to disruptions caused by changes in global commodity prices and borrowing costs, factors that could affect growth and inflation prospects.

“Rising geopolitical tensions, increased uncertainty surrounding the global outlook, and heightened risks associated with energy prices, inflation, trade flows, and financial market stability” continue to weigh on the global economic outlook, Saamoi said.

Despite those concerns, the committee said Liberia’s economy continues to perform strongly. Growth is projected to reach 5.5% in 2026, compared with 5.1% in 2025, supported by increased activity in mining, manufacturing and services.

According to the central bank, the stronger growth reflects expanding economic activity across several sectors and growing domestic demand.

“Real GDP growth is projected at 5.5% in 2026 compared with 5.1% in 2025, reflecting improved performance across key sectors of the economy,” Saamoi said.

The committee also highlighted progress in reducing inflation, one of the central bank’s key objectives. Officials said exchange-rate stability and prudent monetary management have helped ease price pressures across the economy.

Inflation declined to an estimated 4.5% during the third quarter from 5.4% in the previous quarter and is expected to remain stable during the remainder of the year.

“The Committee welcomed this continued moderation in inflation as evidence that recent policy measures are contributing to greater price stability and helping preserve the purchasing power of Liberian households and businesses,” he said.

The central bank further reported that Liberia’s banking sector remains healthy and well-positioned to withstand economic shocks. Strong capital levels and adequate liquidity continue to support confidence in the financial system.

According to the committee, the banking sector’s capital adequacy ratio stood at 38.64%, far above the regulatory requirement of 10%, while the liquidity ratio reached 58.71%, significantly exceeding the statutory minimum of 15%.

“These indicators underscore the strength, resilience, and soundness of Liberia’s banking system,” Saamoi said..

However, policymakers stressed that challenges remain, particularly the high level of non-performing loans. The committee warned that bad loans continue to limit the ability of banks to extend credit to productive sectors and could pose risks to financial stability if left unresolved.

The ratio of non-performing loans stood at 13.38%, above the prudential benchmark of 10%.

“Elevated NPLs continue to represent a significant medium-term risk to financial stability and constrain the capacity of financial institutions to expand credit to productive sectors of the economy,” he said.

To address longer-term vulnerabilities within the financial system, the committee announced targeted policy measures aimed at strengthening monetary policy transmission and reducing risks linked to Liberia’s heavy dependence on foreign currency transactions.

As part of that effort, policymakers voted to increase the reserve requirement ratio on United States dollar deposits by two percentage points, from 10% to 12%, while keeping the reserve requirement on Liberian dollar deposits unchanged at 25%.

The committee said the move is intended to improve liquidity management, strengthen the financial sector and gradually reduce vulnerabilities associated with financial dollarization.

“The increase in reserve requirement for United States dollar deposits and adjustment of the interest rate corridor are intended to strengthen monetary policy transmission, enhance liquidity management, strengthen financial sector resilience, and support the gradual reduction of structural vulnerabilities associated with Liberia’s high level of financial dollarization,” Saamoi said.

The committee also noted that Liberia’s external position remains relatively stable despite a wider trade deficit. Strong reserve levels and remittance inflows continue to provide a buffer against external shocks and imported inflation.

Gross international reserves remained at 3.3 months of prospective import cover, above the ECOWAS benchmark of three months, according to the committee.

The central bank said it remains optimistic about Liberia’s near-term outlook, citing strengthening economic activity, stable inflation and confidence in the financial sector. Nevertheless, policymakers emphasized that they remain prepared to respond should domestic or international conditions deteriorate.

“The Monetary Policy Committee remains vigilant and stands ready to take additional policy measures when necessary to safeguard price stability and financial stability,” Saamoi said.

New paper says converting dollar prices at a stronger Liberian dollar rate makes inflation look lower than it is; suggests true rate could be above 9 percent

Monrovia – An independent Liberian economist is challenging the official view that inflation in Liberia is cooling. He argues that the way the country measures prices hides a cost of living that households feel rising every time they go to the market.

By Rodney D Sieh

In a policy research paper dated September 30, 2026, Dr. Paul Columbus Collins, a chartered accountant and independent economic policy researcher based in Monrovia, says the steady fall in headline inflation reported by the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) “is not an economic anomaly but a measurement artifact.”

Using what he describes as illustrative calculations, Dr. Collins estimates that inflation in September would stand at about 9.5 percent under his proposed method – more than double the roughly 4.3 percent he says the current method produces.

Prices up, inflation down

The paper sets out what it calls “the inflation paradox.” According to the figures it compiles, reported headline inflation eased from about 6.2 percent in January to about 4.3 percent in September. The September figure is provisional; the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) normally publishes it in mid-October.

Over the same period, the Liberian dollar strengthened from about L$187 to between L$172 and L$175 to the US dollar, an appreciation of about 7 to 8 percent.

Yet the prices of everyday essentials kept climbing in US dollars. The paper cites a 25kg bag of rice rising from US$16.75 in January to US$18.50 in September, an increase of 10.4 percent. By the author’s estimates, gasoline rose about 16 percent, diesel about 18.5 percent, cement 11.5 percent and cooking oil 9.4 percent. Prices paid in Liberian dollars also went up: the paper estimates Monrovia transport fares rose from L$150 to L$165, and the fare from Monrovia to Gbarnga from L$800 to L$950.

“For the ordinary Liberian household – whose budget is split between LRD cash earnings and USD-priced essentials – the cost of living is unambiguously rising,” Dr. Collins writes.

How the numbers shrink

The problem, the paper argues, lies in how the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is put together. Many items in the basket – imported food, fuel, rent, school fees – are priced and paid for in US dollars. According to the paper, those dollar prices are converted into Liberian dollars at the going exchange rate before inflation is calculated.

When the Liberian dollar gets stronger, each US dollar converts into fewer Liberian dollars. That pulls the converted price down, even when the dollar price has gone up.

The bag of rice shows how it works. At January’s rate of about L$187.2, the US$16.75 bag was worth about L$3,136. At September’s rate of about L$172.5, the US$18.50 bag is worth about L$3,191. A 10.4 percent price increase in dollars becomes a 1.8 percent increase on paper.

The paper gives a second example: an item whose dollar price rises 5 percent between January and September would appear to have fallen 3.3 percent in price once converted.

“The statistic has ceased to measure the cost of living and instead measures the exchange rate with a price signal buried inside it,” the paper says.

Across 12 dollar-priced items in the paper’s extended table, prices rose by an average of about 12 percent in US dollars. Converted into Liberian dollars, the same items rose by only about 3 percent.

A dollar economy

Dr. Collins says the distortion matters more in Liberia than almost anywhere else. The IMF has described Liberia as one of the most highly dollarized economies in the world. Citing IMF studies, the paper notes that between 2007 and 2020 about 84 percent of bank deposits and 91 percent of bank lending were in US dollars, with overall dollarization estimated at 82 to 95 percent.

In such an economy, the paper argues, “the choice of measurement currency is not a technical detail – it determines what the index actually measures.”

Risk to policy

The paper warns that the stronger the Liberian dollar becomes, the lower measured inflation will fall, regardless of what happens to real prices. That, it says, could push policymakers to ease monetary policy when they should not.

It points to the CBL’s decision in July to cut its monetary policy rate to 16 percent, which the paper says may have been based on “a possibly distorted price signal.”

The CBL’s own statement on that cut, as reported in the local press, put headline inflation at an estimated 5.4 percent in the second quarter, up from earlier in the year, and projected it would ease to 4.4 percent, plus or minus two percentage points, in the third quarter.

Two numbers instead of one

Dr. Collins proposes that Liberia measure inflation separately in each currency. Price collectors, who already visit markets and shops, would record whether each price was quoted in US or Liberian dollars. LISGIS would then calculate one inflation rate for US-dollar prices and another for Liberian-dollar prices, without converting between them.

The official headline rate would be a weighted average of the two, based on how much of the economy runs in each currency. The paper suggests starting with 85 percent for the US dollar and 15 percent for the Liberian dollar, reviewed every year.

Applying this method to his September estimates, Dr. Collins arrives at 9.1 percent inflation for US-dollar prices and 11.8 percent for Liberian-dollar prices, giving a weighted headline of about 9.5 percent.

“No official exchange rate enters the computation at any point, so exchange-rate movements can no longer masquerade as price movements,” the paper says.

Recommendations

The paper calls on LISGIS and the CBL to pilot the two-currency index using existing price surveys, and to publish both currency rates alongside the headline figure. It urges the IMF to review Liberia’s CPI method under its Extended Credit Facility program with the country. Until any change is made, it says, the authorities should at least publish a US-dollar price index so that users can see the effect of the exchange rate.

The paper also argues that an accurate index matters for Liberia’s standing in ECOWAS, which sets a regional inflation target of 5 percent or less.

Estimates, not official data

The paper is careful to say that many of its numbers are estimates. Its price table is described as the author’s own compilation, anchored to reported market prices, and should be read as “indicative magnitudes rather than official statistics.” Where official monthly data for 2026 were not available, the paper fills gaps with interpolations. The 9.5 percent figure is described as an illustrative calculation meant to show how the method would work, not a full recalculation of the CPI.

The IMF’s own projection, cited in the paper, puts Liberia’s inflation at 6.7 percent by the end of 2026.

Monrovia, September 30, 2026 – In an effort to have the 2027 National Budget submitted on or in time so as to enhance its full implementation, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has scheduled today, Thursday, October 1, 2026 for the kick-off of the budget hearing processes.

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

The Executive Budget Hearing is a legal requirement under the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act, wherein the Budget Policy and Coordination Committee consult with all Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) on their programs and budget justifications for the next fiscal year.

According to a statement issued by the MFDP, the exercise is another critical phase in the Government of Liberia’s national budget formulation process.

By law, MFDP must submit the national budget to the Legislature no later than October 31 of every year. In a bid to achieve this and especially to ensure that allocations are not arbitrary, there will be a thorough consultative process to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. During the hearings, MACs will be made to defend their budget to convince the panel of experts whether there is a need for addition or subtraction.

The process also among other things, aims to ensure that the FY2026 Budget align with the government’s 5-year development plan, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).

The hearings, coordinated through the National Budget Committee (NBC), will allow spending entities to present and justify their proposed programs, priorities, expenditure requirements, and planned activities for Fiscal Year 2027.

The process is in line with the statutory mandate requiring the MFDP to consult with spending entities on their programs, commitments, and budgetary priorities before the preparation and submission of the National Budget.

The opening session on Thursday will focus on the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Special Presidential Project Coordinating Committee (SPPCC), and the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), bringing together key institutions responsible for managing Liberia’s mineral and energy resources, coordinating priority presidential development projects, and overseeing public procurement and concessions.

During the hearings, participating institutions are expected to outline their proposed programs and activities, provide justification for their budgetary requests, and respond to questions concerning their priorities, implementation plans, and resource requirements.

The Executive Budget Hearings are scheduled to run through Friday, October 9, 2026, and will cover a broad range of sectors and spending entities across government.

MONROVIA – For most Liberians, the diaspora has a familiar face: the money transfer queue on Randall Street, the phone call before school fees are due, the barrel shipped home before Christmas.

By Rodney D Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com

A new report suggests that picture captures only part of what Liberians abroad have to offer.

In hospitals, classrooms and social service agencies across Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Texas, tens of thousands of Liberian Americans go to work each day in the fields Liberia struggles hardest to staff. According to the report, nearly 20,000 of them work in education, health care and social assistance alone.

“The report moves this conversation from assumptions to evidence,” said Axel Addy, the former Commerce and Industry Minister whose firm, Ecocap Investment Group, commissioned the study.

Counting the Community

The report, Liberian Americans: An Economic Profile, was published this month by Liberia Diaspora Exchange (LDx). It arrives as the government hosts the second edition of the Liberia Diaspora Annual Conference.

Data and analysis come from Professor Bruce P. Corrie of Concordia University-St. Paul in Minnesota, home to the largest Liberian community in the United States. The study draws on U.S. Census Bureau survey estimates for 2017 to 2021.

Its central estimate is that 86,657 Liberian Americans live in 28,881 households across the United States. Together those households earn about US$2.2 billion a year, and the median household earns US$61,453.

Liberians have long talked about the diaspora in rough terms: “plenty people in America,” “the ones sending money.” The report replaces those impressions with figures, each checked against published Census tables and each carrying a margin of error.

Degrees, Not Just Dollars

The most striking numbers are about education.

Among Liberian Americans aged 25 and older, 91 percent have finished high school. About 34 percent, or roughly 17,600 people, hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Some 6,200 hold a master’s, professional, or doctorate.

Their work follows that training. Of 45,372 employed Liberian Americans, 43 percent work in education, health care and social assistance. Among women alone, more than 12,300 work in health care and social assistance.

The authors note that this workforce matches the Human Capital Development pillar of the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which covers education, health and skills training.

For a country where university departments run short of qualified lecturers and hospitals short of specialists, the implication is plain. Much of the expertise Liberia hopes to build is already Liberian. It simply lives elsewhere.

A Settled People

The profile also shows a community that has put down roots.

About 65 percent of Liberian Americans were born abroad, and 58 percent of those have become U.S. citizens. Another 35 percent were born in the United States, a generation raised on stories of home rather than memories of it.

One in three households owns its home. Corrie estimates their residential property is worth about US$2.3 billion, though the report stresses this is a derived estimate, not a Census total.

Prosperity is uneven. About 27 percent of households earn under US$35,000 a year, while 40 percent earn US$75,000 or more. Minnesota, the largest community with 13,545 people, has the lowest per capita income among the leading states at US$20,244. Maryland’s smaller community of 4,936 has the highest at US$39,136.

That spread matters for how Liberia approaches its diaspora. The report is careful to say that many households have the capacity to save or invest, and many do not. Not every Liberian American is a potential investor. Far more may be potential teachers.

Beyond the Money Transfer

Money still matters enormously. World Bank figures cited in the report show personal remittances to Liberia from all countries rose from about US$346 million in 2019 to about US$1.02 billion in 2024, equal to 21.3 percent of GDP.

But remittances largely flow household to household. They pay fees and rent, and they cushion hard times. They rarely build institutions.

The report argues that skills can do what cash alone cannot, if there is a system to carry them.

That system does not yet exist in any organized form. Diaspora doctors and professors visit home often, and some give a lecture or spend a day at a clinic. Those efforts are mostly informal, arranged through personal contacts, and gone when the visitor flies back.

Building the Bridge

LDx proposes to change that through a Diaspora Knowledge Transfer Programme:

• Ministries, universities, hospitals and TVET institutions would request lectures, training or mentoring.

• LDx would vet visiting diaspora professionals and match them to those requests.

• The host institution would approve each session and its honorarium.

• Sessions would be recorded with the speaker’s consent and stored online, so a single lecture could keep teaching long after the visitor leaves.

A first test is already under way on paper. The University of Liberia and LDx signed a memorandum of understanding this year for a 12-month pilot that includes diaspora guest lectures and mentorship.

LDx was established by Ecocap with support from the USAID-funded Liberia Economic Policy Dialogue Activity, implemented by Nathan Associates. Addy said the initiative “seeks to build a structured bridge for two-way social and business engagement, connecting Liberia with the talent, time and resources of its diaspora.”

He said he believes in “the power of Liberia’s Diaspora Engagement Policy to build a structured and productive relationship between Liberia and its citizens abroad.” He also commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of State for advancing the policy, and congratulated the government on the diaspora conference.

Old Walls Still Standing

Goodwill alone will not be enough. The report revisits barriers the government itself named in its 2016 Diaspora Engagement Policy, and many will sound familiar to anyone who has tried to come home and do business:

• Mistrust between Liberians at home and abroad

• Disputes over land and inheritance

• Investment rules with capital thresholds too high for most diaspora savers

• Embassies unable to give clear answers on residency, entry or business registration

• Lingering uncertainty over what rights the diaspora actually holds

The report recommends publishing clear guidance through foreign missions, focusing outreach on the five largest state communities, and tracking results with simple indicators: sessions delivered, trainees reached, investments made.

The authors also acknowledge the limits of their own data. It covers only the United States and only the period 2017 to 2021, and it cannot measure who wants to invest, return or teach.

From Assumptions to Evidence

What the data can do is end the guessing.

For decades, Liberia has spoken of its diaspora as a resource without being able to say precisely what that resource is. Now, for its largest diaspora community at least, the country has a count, an income, an education profile and a map.

The next queue on Randall Street will still be there. The question the report leaves with policymakers is whether, alongside it, Liberia can build a second channel: one that brings home not only what its people abroad earn, but what they know.

Addy urged Liberians at home and abroad to read the full report on the LDx Community Exchange platform at https://liberian-diaspora-exchange.mn.co/.