Monrovia, Liberia — Liberia’s Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung has commended Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and the leadership and staff of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for what he described as the demanding and critical role the institution plays in the functioning of Government.
Vice President Koung observed that the MFDP is among the most heavily tasked ministries in Government, noting that decisions made within the Ministry have direct implications for ministries, agencies and public institutions across the country.
He particularly praised the Ministry for improvements in the regularity of salary payments, describing the progress as an important achievement for public-sector workers.
Vice President Koung, however, stressed that the Government must continue working to improve the living conditions of Liberians and strengthen the country’s economic foundation.
He recalled President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s characterization of the Government’s initial phase as one focused on rescuing the country from its longstanding challenges, saying the Government must now transition toward restructuring and rebuilding.
“The process of rescuing is over. The boat is on shore now. What we need to do now is to get it ready and fix it,” Vice President Koung said.
Vice President Koung called for greater attention to ordinary Liberians and sectors that are often overlooked in national policy discussions, including market women, small-scale borrowers and commercial motorcyclists.
He noted that commercial motorcyclists play a particularly important role in transporting people and providing access to communities in parts of the country where road infrastructure remains limited.
The Vice President urged the Ministry to consider targeted interventions that could support these groups and contribute to inclusive economic growth.
Vice President Koung also urged the Ministry to prioritize adequate support for the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency as Government intensifies its campaign against illicit drugs.
He recalled President Boakai’s declaration of a national “war on drugs” and stressed the importance of ensuring that the LDEA has the resources and institutional capacity necessary to effectively combat drug trafficking and abuse.
“As you do your budget, don’t forget DEA. That makes them stronger,” Vice President Koung emphasized, urging the Ministry to ensure that the agency is adequately supported through the national budget.
The Vice President concluded by thanking Minister Ngafuan and MFDP staff for their continued service and leadership, emphasizing that effective coordination and strategic deployment of Government institutions are essential to achieving national development objectives.
He said the Government’s current focus should be on consolidating the gains made during the initial phase of its administration while advancing reforms that improve public services, strengthen economic opportunities and enhance the welfare of Liberians.
For his part, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, outlined a series of high-level engagements and policy priorities aimed at strengthening public financial management, advancing the preparation of the 2027 National Budget, and addressing long-standing institutional and social protection challenges.
Minister Ngafuan provided an overview of the Ministry’s key priorities for the week.
Minister Ngafuan revealed to Vice President Koung that the Ministry has commenced preparations for the 2027 National Budget, following the launch of the budget preparation process in mid-July 2026. He noted that the Government is working to ensure that the budget is submitted within the statutory deadline of October 31, 2026, as required by law.
According to Minister Ngafuan, the early commencement of the process is intended to allow the Government to undertake comprehensive consultations with ministries, agencies and other stakeholders on their current priorities, challenges and funding requirements ahead of the 2027 fiscal year.
“The budget preparation process has started.
We launched the preparation process by the middle of July, and we are to submit the new budget by the deadline in the law, by the 31st of October,” Minister Ngafuan said.
As part of the process, the Minister disclosed that the Ministry will engage key institutions across the security, energy, education and social protection sectors to better understand their operational challenges and incorporate priority interventions into the national budget.
Minister Ngafuan said the Ministry will host senior officials of the security sector for a comprehensive review of their priorities and challenges.
The delegation is expected to include the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, the Director of the Liberia National Police, the leadership of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), the Liberia National Fire and Rescue Service and other security institutions.
He described the engagement as a “deep dive” into the sector’s current issues, with the objective of understanding operational concerns and ensuring that appropriate priorities are reflected in the 2027 budget.
The Minister also disclosed plans to engage the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) on the country’s energy situation, including the corporation’s development plans and areas where Government support could accelerate progress in the sector.
The engagement, he said, will provide an opportunity for Government to better understand LEC’s priorities and determine how available public resources can be strategically aligned to support the expansion and improvement of electricity services.
A major priority identified by Minister Ngafuan is the Government’s planned engagement with the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASCOP) to address outstanding obligations and broader challenges affecting public and private sector workers.
The Minister said the Ministry intends to convene a comprehensive, “one-stop-shop” dialogue with NASCOP, bringing together institutions that have outstanding concerns or obligations related to the corporation.
He noted that the challenges extend across several public institutions, including the University of Liberia, Liberia Revenue Authority and various ministries, agencies and public corporations, while some private-sector entities are also reportedly not meeting their NASCOP obligations.
“We want to be able to have this panoramic discussion and to understand all the challenges. We’re not going to put things on the carpet,” Minister Ngafuan said, stressing the Government’s determination to confront the issue directly.
He said the Government recognizes that some of the obligations have accumulated over several years and that decisive action is required to address the situation.
Minister Ngafuan emphasized that retirement should be viewed as a period of dignity and security rather than uncertainty, noting that Government is committed to ensuring that workers can look forward to retirement with confidence.
He said the initial engagement with NASCOP will serve as the first phase of a broader policy discussion, which will subsequently be elevated to the President and Vice President for consideration and appropriate policy decisions.
The finance minister further announced that the Ministry will engage the Ministry of Education as part of its broader consultations on national priorities and resource allocation.
The discussions are expected to focus on the education sector’s pressing needs and how they can be appropriately addressed within the framework of the national budget.
About the Author
