MONROVIA – Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has revealed that Liberia lost an estimated $300 million in a single month following the cancellation of major projects by the United States Government, a blow he described as a significant setback to the nation’s development efforts.
Speaking at the opening of a high-level Development Partners Retreat on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the EJS Ministerial Complex, Minister Ngafuan acknowledged the growing challenges facing Liberia, including shifting priorities from key international donors. Despite these hurdles, he emphasized that the government remains focused on an ambitious national development agenda aimed at mobilizing $8.3 billion in funding.
Ngafuan highlighted the country’s progress, pointing to more than 370 completed interventions spanning infrastructure, water access, and other critical sectors. He reiterated that Liberia’s development efforts are driven by the voices and needs of its citizens, stating, “We are ambitious for our people.”
He called for practical solutions to overcome funding gaps, including enhancing domestic revenue generation, improving expenditure efficiency, and leveraging digital tools to strengthen governance. Regional cooperation was also underscored as a key pillar for growth, with Ngafuan advocating for deeper integration through ECOWAS frameworks such as the common passport and free movement protocol.
Going forward, the Finance Minister said all current and future development projects will be aligned with Liberia’s national budget and its new development roadmap, the AAID strategy.
Foreign Minister Sarah Beysolow Nyanti supported the call for reforms, urging transparency and mutual accountability. “Every dollar must serve the people of Liberia,” she said, pressing partners to invest more confidence in national systems and innovative regional alliances.
United Nations Resident Coordinator Christine Umutoni praised Liberia’s strategic vision and reaffirmed the UN’s commitment. She noted that successful implementation of the AAID plan could reduce national poverty from 45 to 36 percent and significantly raise income levels by 2029.
The AAID strategy, Liberia’s national development blueprint, prioritizes agriculture, roads, education, rule of law, sanitation, health, tourism, economic empowerment, and regional integration.
