Monrovia – The General Auditing Commission’s (GAC) audit of the Consolidated Fund, which revealed persistent lapses in public financial management, has ignited a heated exchange between supporters of the ruling Unity Party (UP) and the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). Both sides are trading accusations over who better managed state resources.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com

The controversy deepened after Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan appeared on state radio to respond to the audit, which flagged US$2.8 million in undocumented expenditures. Ngafuan dismissed allegations of fraud, calling the discrepancies “documentation issues.”

Comparing the 2024 audit (under UP) with the 2023 audit (under CDC), Ngafuan argued that the current government performed better. “Besides documentation issues and payments without legislative approval, last year’s report was qualified, meaning it was generally sound with minor exceptions,” he said. “2023’s audit, however, was adverse—the Auditor General found major gaps. The $2.8 million cited this year pales in comparison to $4.27 million flagged in 2023.”

Ngafuan noted that over-expenditures in 2024 amounted to US$2.8 million compared to US$96 million in 2023, which he said showed improvements. He emphasized that audit findings point to administrative errors, not theft, and urged the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to investigate both years.

“Fraud requires intent and action. Someone could mismanage funds without intending theft. It is the LACC’s role to investigate and clarify these issues,” he said.

Broader Economic Pressures

Despite his defense, Ngafuan faces mounting criticism amid a worsening economy. Analysts argue the minister appears rattled that he is under immense pressure for the current bad state of the economy. Liberians are generally complaining about the bad state of the economy and that the minister of finance does not appear to be in charge in a way that assures confidence of an economic turnaround.

According to analysts Mr. Ngafuan does not appear focused on the bread and butter issues, issues of job creation and private sector led growth.  Almost two years since the Rescue mission has assumed office, Liberians have seen that the Government is still in the shadows of the CDC administration. Prices of basic commodities continue to rise between January 2024 and July 2025. According to numbers from LISGIS’ Consumer price report, inflation since the CDC left power has risen by 15.75 percent. Between July and June 2025, inflation has increased by about 3 percent according to the LISGIS figures. The factors for these increases continue to dumbfound and challenge.                                   

The Government has not been able to overturn harmonization which was an election promise. Former Minister Samuel Tweah challenge has challenged the government that “ harmonization cannot be undone.” To date the minister’s Tweah’s challenge remains. The General Allowance and Basic salaries systems that were combined by the CDC administration has not been undone, and the extravagant salaries of some 5,000 to 7000 Government workers which was reduced to make room for around 15,000 government workers have also not been reversed.

Critics also note the government’s failure to undo the controversial “harmonization” policy, despite campaign promises. Former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah had argued that harmonization “cannot be undone,” and two years into the UP-led “Rescue Mission,” his challenge still stands.

Meanwhile, flagship CDC-era programs such as free tuition at public universities and free WASSCE fees remain intact, but the government is struggling to sustain them. UL’s budget rose from US$18 million in 2017 to US$30 million in 2023 under CDC, with teachers’ salaries increasing by more than 60 percent. The Rescue Mission has yet to match this record and now faces open confrontation with UL administration.

Last week, the UL president had to engage the Senate Committee on education to provide some support for the UL, drumming public pressures on the government and the finance minister for seemingly abandoning the UL. In reaction, Minister Ngafuan said on ELBC morning show that the UL request is an off budget request that should be considered carefully because of the way off budget issues are generally treated in the country. But experts opine that the Minister may be wrong since the allocation in question was approved in the 2025 national budget but was singularly used by the minister to pay UL adjoint professor for the 2024 fiscal year. Legal experts question the authority the finance minister to transfer appropriation from one fiscal year for use in a previous fiscal year without legislative backing.

The Government and the minister have also come under pressure for the recent audit of the consolidated account. While FrontPage Africa has reported on $2.8 million that cannot be account    for, a deeper dive into the GAC audit reveals that the  questionable     and possibly illegal expenditures could rise to more than $100 million, ranging from.

The GAC Audit Beyond $2.8 Million

While much attention has centered on the missing US$2.8 million, a closer look at the GAC report reveals deeper structural concerns:

• Eleven state-owned enterprises (SOEs) owed US$10.16 million in income taxes but paid only US$5.6 million.
• Ten of the 11 SOEs were not assessed for corporate taxes. Only LPRC paid partially (US$246,983 of US$575,047 due).
• Only LEC and LWSC were assessed for Goods and Services Tax (US$1.8 million), but LWSC paid just US$14,707.

The shortfall raises questions over several million dollars in uncollected revenues.

CDC supporters have seized on these gaps. Former Weah administration official Isaac Doe cited other red flags in the audit, including:

• US$2.97 million in unexplained prior period adjustments;
• US$12.5 million in “vendor shares” with no supporting schedules;
• US$10.3 million variances between Consolidated Fund and agency reports;
• US$2.8 million spent without legislative approval;
• US$78.2 million under-disbursed to 106 ministries and agencies;
• US$6.1 million discrepancies between IFMIS ledgers and reported figures.

According to Doe, these issues point to as much as US$115 million in questionable spending.

Ngafuan’s Response

Ngafuan insisted most of the flagged transactions predated his tenure and were largely payments to settle arrears for health teams and universities. “The auditor did not allege fraud or misappropriation. Had there been fraud, we would not have received a qualified opinion,” he said.

Of more than US$735 million in transactions, he added, only US$2.8 million were flagged for inadequate documentation. He highlighted reforms underway, including an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) expected by December 2025 to address record-keeping weaknesses.

“Imagine restarting a system that was practically solved in 2011,” Ngafuan said. “We are now expediting an electronic system to permanently close these gaps.”

The UL Funding Standoff

The audit controversy overlaps with a simmering standoff between the government and the University of Liberia (UL). UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan recently appealed to the Senate for US$500,000 in emergency relief to cover urgent repairs and contractor payments, warning of delays in reopening the semester.

She noted that UL requested US$41 million during the budget process but was allotted US$34 million—of which 90 percent goes to salaries.

Comptroller Togar Gibson further revealed that US$1 million earmarked for campus renovations was never received, prompting lawmakers to question whether the funds were diverted.

Ngafuan countered that the government has fully released UL’s approved US$34 million budget, insisting the institution is not underfunded. “It is one thing to ask for more; it is another to use what you have,” he said, arguing that any additional request would be “off-budget.”

Lawmakers are expected to debate UL’s appeal and probe the fate of the missing US$1 million this week, as public pressure mounts on both the university and the Finance Ministry.

Monrovia – The Unity Party-led government has kicked off the formulation of the 2026 National Budget with renewed ambition and a goal to reach a historic US$1 billion mark. 

By Jaheim T. Tumu, Jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com

Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan made the announcement during a budget planning launch held in Monrovia on Tuesday, describing the process as not only a fiscal necessity but a defining moment for Liberia’s economic direction.

“We are knocking on heaven’s door,” Minister Ngafuan declared, referencing the country’s push toward the elusive billion-dollar target. “Even if we meet the US$1 billion target, issues of scarcity will remain. But their complaint is positive — it reflects ambition.”

Minister Ngafuan’s remarks stirred both optimism and caution. While he lauded the country’s recent fiscal progress, he was quick to remind stakeholders that real change would require performance, discipline, and consistency across every government entity.

Minister Ngafuan pointed to the record-breaking revenue collection in Fiscal Year 2024 as a foundation for the country’s renewed fiscal aspirations. He noted that domestic revenue hit nearly US$700 million — marking the highest ever collected in Liberia’s history.

But beyond numbers, Minister Ngafuan painted a picture of a government gaining recognition and credibility on the international stage. He highlighted Liberia’s recent election to the United Nations Security Council and its selection to host the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Center as proof of growing diplomatic respect.

“Our country is respected globally,” he said. “That global respect will translate to many dividends.”

In an unexpected moment that drew interest from attendees, Minister Ngafuan revealed that President Joseph Boakai had recently held “fruitful conversations” with  U.S. President Donald Trump during a trip to the United States — though he did not elaborate. “These global engagements will yield dividends. Your country has been put on a pedestal of respectability—and we will keep it there,” he asserted.

Despite the inspirational tone, Minister Ngafuan delivered a stern message to government agencies and public institutions that more money would not mean better results unless there was a visible improvement in efficiency and accountability.

“Two entities can get similar budgets. One can deliver more than the other based on execution efficiency, based on forward planning,” he explained. “While you’re making claims for more resources, I have to be looking at your preparation for delivery.”

He warned internal actors suspected of stalling implementation or operating outside approved financial protocols. “When we get information that you are enforcing your own breaks — own unapproved breaks — we will act accordingly. Everyone in the delivery chain should take this very seriously,” Minister Ngafuan said.

He emphasized that allocations in the FY2026 Budget would be aligned with sectoral priorities, particularly in energy, roads, and agriculture. “We must hold deep-dive conversations on sectors like energy and roads to ensure that allocations match sector-specific realities,” he added.

Minister Ngafuan acknowledged these constraints but remained resolute. “We’re not where we want to be, but certainly not where we were years ago,” he stated.

Deputy Finance Minister for Budget, Tenneh Brunson, also delivered a pointed message, describing the national budget as more than just numbers — it is a social covenant.

“The national budget is a social contract between the government and its citizens,” Brunson said. “The FY2026 national budget must serve as a credible financing instrument to accelerate delivery.”

She emphasized that the budget will align with President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda—with focus areas including agriculture, the rule of law, education, sanitation, roads, and tourism. Brunson called for medium-term planning, baseline budgeting, and performance-based allocations to drive impact and transparency.

While the government’s fiscal ambition is high, early signs from the FY2025 budget execution suggest serious hurdles. A report from the House of Representatives’ Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Development Planning revealed that the national budget has already fallen short by nearly US$18 million in the first quarter.

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning projected US$201.66 million in revenue between January and March 2025. However, actual collections amounted to only US$183.81 million, translating to a performance rate of just 91.1 percent.

Rep. P. Mike Jury, Chair of the Committee, expressed concern: “The shortfall of US$17.85 million is concerning. We discovered delays in both tax and non-tax revenue collections. More troubling is the non-compliance of SOEs in meeting their financial obligations to the national budget.”

Rep. Jury added: “This is a wake-up call. We cannot afford to lose ground on our development agenda because of institutional laxity and disregard for fiscal responsibility.”

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) also reported underperformance, collecting US$336 million by the end of May—falling US$7 million short of its US$343 million target. The LRA attributed this to weak compliance by revenue-generating institutions and state-owned enterprises.

According to the Bureau of State Enterprises, only 11 of 20 SOEs submitted quarterly reports—and only four did so on time. For the quarter, SOEs were expected to contribute US$12.37 million, but only US$8.49 million was realized, leaving a deficit of US$3.88 million.

Liberia’s FY2025 Budget, which totals US$880.6 million, was signed into law in January 2025. However, of that amount, a staggering US$774 million — about 88 percent — is allocated to recurrent expenditures.

This includes US$153 million for debt servicing, alongside heavy spending on public sector salaries, foreign travel, entertainment, vehicles, fuel, and daily subsistence allowances (DSAs). Such spending leaves little fiscal room for development and capital investments.

Liberia continues to operate with a relatively low fiscal envelope compared to its neighbors in the region. It lags behind Sierra Leone, which boasts a national budget of approximately US$1.3 billion, Guinea at US$4.89 billion, and Ivory Coast with a substantial US$23.39 billion.

This is not the first time a Liberian administration has set its sights on the elusive US$1 billion mark. Since the end of the civil conflict, successive governments have made similar declarations. The previous Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)-led government also pursued this goal but failed to achieve it during its six-year tenure.

As the FY2026 budget process unfolds, the Unity Party-led government now faces the challenge of turning ambition into execution. Analysts say its push toward a US$1 billion budget is commendable—but achieving it will demand urgent reforms, fiscal discipline, and robust institutional collaboration.

Rabat – Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, is in Morocco where he met with his Moroccan counterpart, Madam Nadia Fettah, to discuss opportunities for enhanced bilateral cooperation in Public Financial Management (PFM) and other sectors.

The talks, held in Rabat, culminated in an agreement to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will see Morocco providing technical support to Liberia in key areas of PFM, including debt and cash management.

This partnership, according to Minister Ngafuan, will allow Liberian PFM professionals from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to collaborate closely with their Moroccan peers, offering a valuable opportunity to build capacity for more effective public financial systems.”

Through this collaboration, we aim to equip our professionals with the tools and knowledge to enhance the efficiency of Liberia’s financial management systems,” Ngafuan explained.In addition to PFM discussions, the two ministers also delved into broader areas of mutual interest, including agriculture, particularly in the fisheries sector, as well as port development and sports.

They agreed to work closely with relevant sector entities to further explore these areas of cooperation. Earlier in the day, Minister Ngafuan participated in a high-level panel discussion on “Patient Capital for Critical Infrastructure” at the African Finance Ministers Summit in Casablanca.

The session, which included fellow finance ministers from across Africa, centered on the challenges of attracting long-term investment for critical infrastructure projects. Minister Ngafuan highlighted political instability, weak rule of law, and the lack of contract sanctity as major deterrents to attracting patient capital, which requires a stable and secure environment to thrive.

 “Patient capital becomes fleeting when political and economic conditions fail to inspire investor confidence,” Ngafuan stated, underscoring the importance of creating an environment where investors can trust in the long-term sustainability of projects. Minister Ngafuan’s visit is part of Liberia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with African nations and improve its financial systems through international cooperation and knowledge-sharing.