GoL, Commercial Banks Sign National LPA Scheme for Civil Servants

Monrovia, Liberia - The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and two commercial banks, the GT Bank and Ecobank, have signed the National Legal Power of Attorney, known as the LPA scheme for Civil Servants who are employed with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Civil Service Agency.

The objective of the Legal Power of Attorney (LPA), seeks to empower civil servants by improving their lives in terms of infrastructure development and other human basic needs. Through this initiative, civil servants will have access to goods and services through salary credit schemes from various vendors in the country.

Finance and Development Planning Minister who signed on behalf of the Government, Hon. Samuels D. Tweah Jr. reaffirmed the government's commitment and openness to work with all financial institutions in Liberia to turn the country’s economy around, and by moving towards economic growth.

“That is the partnership we are bringing to the process under the leadership of President George Manner. Weah” Min. Tweah added.

According to him, under the Pro-Poor Agenda for prosperity and Development, government salary payment is guarantee and the entire scheme is all about “cash flow”.

“We believe that credit in our financial institutions is turning around; therefore we need to support that recovery with strong judicial reform”, he said.

He said it is important for Liberians to explore opportunities to grow business and to develop their economy; adding that the credit scheme is probably going to be the biggest game changer in the Liberian economy for the next two years going forward.

“We believe that this is just the small beginning that will transform into a good ending. We are very happy and excited. This is very great and the ownership is on everyone, the government, the banks and the consumers”, he explained.

However, the Finance Minister noted that financial institutions in Liberia should lend their capital to these initiatives; stating “we guarantee that nothing is free in the word, but this program is going to work. Government will continue to pay people on time. So when we are paying government workers, let the bank give us a program to expand our economy on credit”.

Also speaking, Liberia’s Comptrollers and Accountant General, Hon. Janka A Kowo, assured financial institutions that the LPA scheme program will boost the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and development across the country.

“We will stand as partners and will endeavor by making sure before the month ends civil servants will get pay alerts on their various phones” Atty. Kowo stressed.

The National Legal Power of Attorney (LPA) scheme for civil servants was finalized on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, and was witnessed by senior government officials including Foreign Minister D. Maxwell Kemayah, Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr., Thomas Doe-Nah of the LRA, CSA James Thompson, Comptroller and Accountant General Janga A. Kowo, representatives of vendors, the GT Bank, EcoBank and the CSA President Moibah.