Monrovia, Liberia - Liberia's Finance and Development Planning Minister, Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has expressed the need for robust development cooperation to drive the economy and foster growth across all sectors.
Minister Ngafuan, who took over the mantle of leadership at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning following his confirmation by the Liberian Senate and commissioning by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, pledged the government's commitment to robust cooperation with development partners and international organizations as well as stakeholders to drive the economy by fostering growth and development across all sectors of the country.
He disclosed this on Monday, September 16, 2024, at a formal ceremony, when he received a turnover note from the Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs, Anthony Myers, who acted as Finance Minister following the resignation of Hon. Boima S. Kamara. Minister Ngafuan said:
We are committed to robust cooperation with development partners and international organizations, including stakeholders, to drive the economy that will foster growth and development across all sectors of the economy.
He pointed out that under his watch as Minister of Finance and Development Planning, he would prioritize efficiency to be enhanced across the government to drive productivity and eliminate unnecessary delays for government transactions.
Hon. Ngafuan urged employees to step up timely and robust transaction processing to avoid bottlenecks relating to allotment and expenditure purposes.
Our goal at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is to move things fast without being pushed, but pushing itself, he explains.
However, he disclosed that under the leadership of President Boakai, the broader vision of national development and the governments role in However, Minister Ngafuan revealed that the vision and aspirations of the Liberian people must be accomplished and fulfilled through the national development plan for inclusive growth and development.
He indicated that citizens across the country are hopeful for growth and development, adding, Every citizen, whether from Toes Town in Grand Gedeh, is hopeful for growth and development and is optimistic about their future. And it is our duty and responsibility at the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning to be instrumental in realizing their dream.
Hon. Ngafuan reiterated the need for a performance-driven culture by working with the Deputy Minister of Administration to create a performance culture manual to track all performances across the Ministry.
He thanked President Boakai for trusting him with a critical role and responsibility to steer the affairs of the countrys economy that will meet the needs and aspirations of the Liberian people.
For his part, former Acting Minister of Finance and Development Planning Minister, Hon. Anthony G. Myers, expressed delight with Minister Ngafuan's return, terming it as an old soldier returning to the battleground. He lauded Minister Ngafuan for the gains made over the years when he served as Minister of Finance under the then leadership of President Sirleaf's administration to transform the economy, especially after the country's post-war era.
According to Deputy Minister Myers, under his watch as acting Minister of Finance and Development Planning, public sector workers and civil servants across the government's monthly salaries remain current without delay.
Hon. Myers said: Under my watch, civil servants across government are no longer getting SMS alerts and running to the banks to be told there is nothing in their accounts, but we have adopted a policy of securing salaries and compensation three months in advance.
Hon. Myers said the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has within seven months taken steps to restore confidence in the private sector and service providers with a commitment to full cash payment after service delivery.
We have created a conducive working environment by providing basic needs through medical insurance benefits, petty cash, and restored allowances for airtime, data, and petroleum, which are now being distributed to facilitate the operations of all departments and units across the Ministry.
Also making remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance & Budget, Senator Prince Moye, called for an urgent reform to address the ongoing economic and financial crises across all sectors of the economy.
He noted that there is an urgent need to address the salary disparities among civil servants across the country and cut down the burden on the domestic debt portfolio. I am urging the government through the Minister of Finance and Development Planning to take critical action to correct the mistakes made by the past administration, Senator Moye said.
The Bong County Senator also urged the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to apply a strong strategy to secure medical supplies to remote areas and tackle the current issue of domestic debt, which stands at 1.2 billion.
Development partners who graced the occasion lauded Minister Ngafuan for a robust move to steer the affairs of Liberia's economy, stating that they are committed to working and transforming all sectors by developing new programs.
Partners in attendance at the ceremony included the International Monetary Fund Resident Representative, Mr. Joel C. Okwnekei, the Head of European Union Delegation in Liberia, H. E. Nora Deprez, Country Manager, African Development Bank, Dr. Benedict Kanu, and UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Christine N. Umutoni. Others were: USAID/Liberia Mission Director, Mr. Jim Wright, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Program; Mr. Anthony Chemony-Boamah, Resident Representative, International Finance Corporation; Madam Nuzhat Anwar; and Country Director, International Fund for Agriculture Development, Madam Pascaline Barankieba.