Sando Defends Billion-Dollar Budget -Says milestone expands development financing, outlines GoL priorities

MONROVIA – Deputy Information Minister Daniel O. Sando’s briefing connects Liberia’s fiscal threshold to salaries, security, roads, business financing, diplomacy, and institutional reform. The presentation treats increased revenue as the foundation for national development spending and stronger public services. It also places responsibility on the administration to demonstrate how collections translate into measurable improvements. Beyond the budget, Sando outlined presidential US engagements and proposed carbon-market legislation. He also addressed banking reforms, police recruitment, national identification, and water investment planning. The agenda’s breadth reflects an active government communications effort. It creates a demanding accountability test because each initiative carries distinct deadlines, implementing institutions, and expected benefits. Citizens will judge those announcements against actual delivery and improvements in their local communities. THE ANALYST reports

The Government of Liberia has announced that the country has, for the first time, reached the US$1 billion mark in its national budget, a development Deputy Information Minister Daniel O. Sando says reflects growing domestic resource mobilization, improved economic management and the government’s commitment to financing national development.

Speaking at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing on Tuesday, Deputy Minister Sando said the achievement followed months of skepticism over whether the government could meet its initial budget projection of approximately US$1.21 billion.

He said the accomplishment should not be viewed merely as an increase in the size of the national budget, but as an opportunity to expand government investment in critical sectors, improve public services and finance projects intended to stimulate economic activity across the country.

According to Sando, the increase was achieved through improved domestic resource mobilization and what he described as the resilience and commitment of the government’s economic management team, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his Cabinet.

Milestone Amid Global Uncertainty

The Deputy Minister said the milestone comes at a time of significant global uncertainty, including disruptions associated with the conflict in the Middle East, pressures on global trade and the movement of goods and services, as well as efforts by governments around the world to stabilize prices.

He said President Boakai, in his address to the nation, acknowledged the difficult global environment under which Liberia reached the budget benchmark.

Deputy Minister Sando said one of the immediate areas expected to benefit from the increased fiscal space is government’s effort to improve salaries for more than 23,000 public sector workers.

He identified workers in health, agriculture, security, the judiciary, the Liberia Revenue Authority and other public institutions as among those expected to benefit from government’s efforts to improve compensation.

Sando also pointed to increased government support for law enforcement and national security institutions. He disclosed that the Armed Forces of Liberia is expected to recruit and train 600 additional personnel annually, describing the expansion as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security capacity.

He said the government is also investing in logistics and equipment for security institutions, noting that inadequate mobility and logistical capacity have historically constrained the ability of security agencies to effectively operate across the country.

Roads and Salary Harmonization

The Deputy Minister said the government’s acquisition of road construction and maintenance equipment is another direct example of how increased public resources could translate into tangible development.

He said the equipment has already arrived in Liberia and is being deployed across the country to support road maintenance. According to him, improved road infrastructure will have a direct impact on farmers, traders and businesses by making it easier to move goods from farms and production centers to markets.

Another major issue highlighted by Deputy Minister Sando was the government’s stated intention to reverse the controversial public-sector salary harmonization policy.

He said President Boakai had reiterated his determination to address the policy, which has been criticized for reducing the take-home earnings of some civil servants. Sando argued that the policy had placed additional pressure on public employees at a time when many Liberian households depend heavily on a single income earner.

He said the country’s high dependency ratio means that one employed person can often carry the financial responsibility for several members of a household. According to him, reversing the harmonization policy would therefore have implications beyond individual employees and could improve household purchasing power.

Support for Liberian Businesses

The Deputy Minister also disclosed that the government intends to establish a special purpose vehicle aimed at creating opportunities for Liberian-owned businesses to participate in critical sectors of the economy. He said such initiatives, combined with a larger national budget, could create greater opportunities for private-sector participation and employment.

Sando described the national budget as a major development tool, saying government projects and programs are financed through the national fiscal envelope. He referenced investments in schools, hospitals, roads, public-sector reform, salaries, medicines and other public services as areas that could receive increased attention when additional resources become available.

He argued that an expanded budget could allow the government to increase the number of schools and hospitals constructed, as well as expand other development programs.

“An increase in the size of the national envelope is a good thing that we must all celebrate,” Sando emphasized, urging Liberians to look beyond political differences when national development milestones are achieved.

He maintained that development projects ultimately benefit citizens regardless of political affiliation.

Boakai Continues US Engagements

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Sando provided an update on President Joseph Boakai’s ongoing official engagements in the United States, including his participation in the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Sando said the President’s U.S. trip includes high-level engagements beyond the UN General Assembly, beginning with meetings at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

According to him, the congressional engagements are intended to strengthen relations between Liberia and the United States.

Following the Washington meetings, President Boakai is expected to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where he will deliver Liberia’s national address. Sando said the President is also expected to participate in key side events on issues of international and national importance.

At the conclusion of the UN engagements, the President and selected members of his delegation are expected to return to Washington, D.C., where he will participate in an annual diaspora-related program in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Deputy Minister said President Boakai is expected to deliver the keynote address at the conference, which brings together Liberians from various countries. He is also expected to make a special visit to the Liberian Maritime Registry.

During the President’s absence, Sando said Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Samuel McGill, serving as Chair of the Cabinet, is coordinating government affairs in consultation with Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung while maintaining communication with the President.

Liberia Plans UNGA Forums

Sando also outlined several side events being organized by the Liberian Government on the margins of the UN General Assembly. He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a schedule of engagements intended to provide Liberia an opportunity to advance its position and strengthen international partnerships on national, regional and global issues.

Among the key areas are women, peace and security; climate-related conflicts; sustainable management of natural resources; and broader peace and security concerns.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is expected to organize a peace and security event on September 18, while the Ministry of Gender will host a high-level event on women, peace and security on September 24.

The Environmental Protection Agency is also expected to convene an event focused on climate, conflict and natural resources. The Deputy Minister also used the briefing to unveil the latest edition of a government publication highlighting development activities across Liberia.

He said the third edition of the magazine focuses on three years of development initiatives under the Boakai administration, covering areas including rural infrastructure, health and policy reforms.

According to Sando, the publication is intended to document government projects through photographs and other visual material while making information about the government’s work accessible to audiences that may not regularly attend press conferences, listen to radio or follow online platforms.

He said approximately 100 copies will be taken to the United States for distribution during the UN General Assembly and diaspora engagements. Copies are also expected to be distributed to government institutions, local government offices, ministries, agencies and foreign embassies in Monrovia. Sando said the magazine will also be presented at the diaspora conference in the United States.

Carbon Policy Moves Forward

Turning to Liberia’s emerging carbon market, Deputy Minister Sando said the Carbon Market Authority is moving toward the next phase following the presentation of Liberia’s consolidated and validated National Carbon Market Policy to President Boakai.

He said the next step is to transform the policy into an enforceable legal framework. The policy was presented by Carbon Market Authority Chief Executive Officer Jenny Koko, in collaboration with the Forestry Development Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Sando said the Carbon Market Authority has been designated Liberia’s principal carbon market regulator, with authority to approve the transfer and trading of carbon credits, operate the national carbon registry and coordinate project reviews.

The proposed legislation is expected to give the authority full legal personality and statutory powers to regulate, enforce and administer carbon market activities. The legal framework is also expected to establish rules governing registration, verification, benefits sharing, community consent and carbon offset projects across sectors including forestry, renewable energy, waste management, transportation and the blue economy.

Sando said the move is intended to provide Liberia with a stronger institutional and legal foundation for participating in the international carbon market. The Deputy Minister further announced the conclusion of the National Non-Performing Loans Resolution Conference, held in Monrovia from September 9–11, 2026.

He said participants adopted a series of resolutions aimed at addressing Liberia’s nonperforming loan challenge and unlocking greater access to credit for private-sector growth and job creation.

Among the recommendations are improved risk management, loan classification, provisioning and supervisory oversight, including measurable nonperforming loan reduction plans for supervised financial institutions.

The resolutions also call for legal and judicial reforms relating to secured lending, collateral enforcement, debt recovery and commercial dispute resolution. Participants recommended legislation addressing creditor and borrower rights, as well as mechanisms to verify and settle government obligations owed to contractors through the banking system.

Other recommendations include strengthening credit reporting systems and collateral registries, exploring a bank verification number or comparable national identification framework, and assessing the feasibility of establishing an asset management company to accelerate the resolution of distressed assets.

The conference also emphasized responsible borrowing, financial literacy, corporate governance and early engagement between lenders and distressed borrowers. Special attention was placed on expanding responsible access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, women-owned businesses, youth entrepreneurs and agricultural value chains.

Sando said, under the leadership of the Central Bank of Liberia, a national nonperforming loans resolution roadmap is expected to be developed within three months, with clear responsibilities, timelines, performance benchmarks and quarterly reporting to stakeholders.

Police Recruitment Begins September

The Liberia National Police is also preparing to launch a nationwide recruitment drive. Sando said the recruitment process will open on September 18, 2026, and run through November 8, 2026, with applications being accepted between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Eligible applicants must be Liberian citizens between the ages of 18 and 35, have no criminal record and must not be members of any political party.

Applicants are required to submit copies of their high school certificate, WASSCE or higher qualification, along with passport photographs and other documents outlined by the Police. The recruitment exercise will be conducted across several regions.

Region One is expected to conduct recruitment from September 18 to October 1, while Region Two, covering Grand Bassa, River Cess and Margibi, is scheduled for September 18 to October 5. Recruitment in Region Three, covering Bomi, Gbarpolu, Bong, Lofa and Nimba, is scheduled from October 5 to October 18.

Further recruitment exercises covering other counties are expected to continue through October and into November. Sando encouraged qualified Liberians, particularly young people interested in national service, to carefully follow the official recruitment instructions and apply through the channels provided by the Liberia National Police.

National Identification Day Declared

Deputy Minister Sando also announced that President Boakai has declared Wednesday, September 16, 2026, as National Identification Day. The initiative is intended to highlight the importance of national identification in promoting economic development and supporting Liberia’s digital transformation.

He said the National Identification Registry and other government institutions are expected to use the observance to raise public awareness about the importance of identification in accessing services and participating in the formal economy.

Water Investment Planning Advances

Meanwhile, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, in partnership with the African Union Commission, is hosting a water investment planning workshop running from September 14 to 18. Sando said the workshop brings together government institutions, development partners, water and climate stakeholders and African Union experts.

The engagement is designed to strengthen Liberia’s capacity to identify, prioritize and mobilize financing for sustainable and climate-resilient water investments. The African Union delegation is being led by its Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, Nambi Hassan.

Sando said the initiative forms part of broader cooperation between Liberia and the African Union aimed at strengthening water security, climate resilience and investment planning in Liberia’s water sector.

He said the workshop is expected to strengthen institutional capacity, promote knowledge sharing and support the development of investment-ready water infrastructure projects. The ultimate objective, according to the Deputy Minister, is to improve access to reliable and sustainable water services for communities across Liberia.