By: Naneka A. Hoffman
May 11, 2026, Monrovia, Liberia – The Minister of Finance and Development Planning has expressed optimism that the national budget will eventually increase to two or three billion United States Dollars before the completion of President Joseph Boakai’s first term in office.
Minister Augustine Ngafuan said with commitment, hard work, and God’s guidance, Liberia is expected to move beyond the current budget level to reach the two or three billion United States Dollars mark, though he admitted that such an increase may still not address all of the country’s growing demands and development challenges.
Minister Ngafuan made the statement during the official launch of the 2026 National Budget Awareness Program held in Kakata, Margibi County, over the weekend.
According to him, the current 1.3 billion United States Dollars budget cannot fully satisfy the aspirations and expectations of the Liberian people, but government remains committed to improving revenue generation and strengthening national development efforts.
“We know that the 1.3 billion United States Dollars cannot meet all the demands and aspirations of the Liberian people and so we are pushing and working,” he noted.
He further stated that even if the country succeeds in crossing the two or three billion United States Dollars threshold, government may still struggle to satisfy all the requests and needs of ministries, agencies and other public institutions.
Minister Ngafuan, however, welcomed public pressure on government to perform more effectively, noting that the current administration is still within its early years in office.
“But I like the fact that we are put under pressure to do more and let me remind you that the government has just gone for two years and three months,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Deputy Minister for Budget at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Tanneh Brunson, disclosed that the awareness initiative is intended to educate citizens on how the national budget is prepared and executed.
According to Deputy Minister Brunson, the awareness campaign will be carried out across the various counties to help citizens gain a deeper understanding of the national budget and how public funds are used.
The program, held under the theme “Empowering Citizens, Strengthening Accountability: Building Liberia’s Future Through Inclusive Budgeting,” brought together senior management members of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, local government officials, students, representatives of line ministries and agencies, and other stakeholders.
