Liberia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Exceeds Projected Contribution to National Budget By Over US$609K For 2022 Budget Year

MONROVIA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has surpassed its projected budgetary contribution to the National Budget 2022. The Ministry which was initially expected to bring in about US$4,609,534.09 contributed a total of US$609,534.90 to the National Budget.

The disclosure was made and confirmed by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) during the budget defense hearing at the Legislature before the Joint Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, Budget & Development Planning, and Public Accounts & Expenditure.

The increment which represents 15.24 percent is the first of its kind in 10 years.

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning along with the Liberia Revenue Authority during the Budget Preparation for Fiscal Year 2022 initially put the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Revenue Projection at US$3,500,000.00, but after the Ministry Revenue defense with the House’s Committee on Public Accounts, Expenditures and Audits for a legislative hearing the Ministry Revenue projection was further increased to US$4,000,000.00.  

During the execution of the National Budget for Fiscal Year 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs collected the amount of US$4,609,534.09 from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.

According to the Ministry, the increment is a result of several reforms Instituted by Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, who has strengthened internal control systems at the Ministry. Therefore, rather than the projected contribution of US$4,000,000.00, the Ministry was able to raise up to US$4,609,534.09; thereby exceeding the projected contribution to the National Budget by US$609, 534.09 for the 2022 Fiscal Year.

It can be recalled that during the Fiscal Year 2020/2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs collected a total amount of US$500,000.00 in excess and a little over US$200,000.00 during the Special Budget which run from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021.     

Under his regime, Min. Kemayah reduced the cost of passport from US$50 to US$40 while express service was reduced from US$100 to US$80 as part of reforms introduced at the Ministry.

Last month, the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched six new passport application centers in a move to enable Liberians living abroad to access Liberian passports without hassle.

The new centers were simultaneously launched in Chicago and Los Angeles in the United States; Nairobi, Kenya; Melbourne Australia and New Delhi, India.

According to the MoFA, the government will continue to open new centers in other locations in phases.

According to the Ministry, it is the obligation of the Government of Liberia to ensure that passport application and processing is brought to the doorstep of every Liberia national who needs a passport to travel or otherwise.

According to the Minister, the benefits of the new centers would be increased revenue for Government of Liberia for national development; easy access of passports for Liberian citizens in areas where Liberia does not have consular centers, and citizens’ rights to Passport is fulfilled by Government.

FrontPageAfrica gathered that it is in the light of these new centers that the Consulate in Minnesota, USA, was closed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Information received by this paper indicates that the closure was also necessary to curb unwholesome acts involving the issuance of Liberian passports. A Foreign Ministry source informed FPA that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working out modalities with the U.S. State Department to open a career consulate in Minnesota as it is in New York.

Prior to his ascendency as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kemayah served as Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN).  He previously served as Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.