Washington- Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has outlined progress made by the Boakai’s Administration for Liberia"s eligibility for the second Compact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
The Minister cited the establishment and strengthening of an intra-governmental team focused on monitoring the MCC Scorecard to ensure Liberia meets the requirements.
He then informed the gathering that the Boaka’s Administration prioritizes transparency and accountability, highlighting ongoing efforts to hold individuals accused of corruption accountable, auditing of ministries, agencies and commissions (MACs) and the formation of an assets recovery team, as key interventions made by the Liberian government among others.
Minister Ngafuan stressed the need to reinstitute the US- Liberia Political Dialogue as a mechanism for strengthening relations between the two countries.
The US-Liberia political dialogue is a structured framework for Liberia - America bilateral friendship, he stated.
He made the statements during meetings held with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Acting Assistant Secretary for Economic Bureau State Department, Amy Holman and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Department on Fiscal Affairs, Alexia Latortue on the margins of the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile, Minister Ngafuan has reiterated the Liberian government's dedication to accountability and improving the lives of its citizens.
He added that the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and the General Auditing Commission are actively collaborating with the Ministry of Justice to prosecute those indicted in various reports.
Additionally, during the meeting Minister Ngafuan highlighted Liberia's constructive engagement with major international partners, citing recent achievements such as the approval of a US$210 million External Credit Facility (ECF) program by the IMF and US$60 million in direct budgetary support from the World Bank.
These milestones reflect our commitment to meeting critical targets, he noted.
Daniel W. Barnes, Managing Director of the Department of Policy and Evaluation Selection Eligibility and Policy Performance at the MCC, expressed gratitude to the Liberian delegation for their proactive engagement.
He commended Liberia’s efforts in combating corruption and reducing poverty and pledged technical support for the intra-governmental committee focused on the MCC Scorecard.
For her part, Amy Holman thanked the Minister and his delegation for the visit, and conveyed her impression for the level of work that is being done and expressed her commitment to working with the team.
Alexia Latortue Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Department on Fiscal Affairs expressed the Treasury concern about the World Bank IDA replenishment and that Liberia is a good candidate for the pandemic resilience program.
She then assured the delegation of the US Treasurys readiness to collaborate with the Government of Liberia on the reinstitution of the US-Liberia Political Dialogue, the support of the US CDC on the pandemic resilience program, and the preparedness of working with Liberia on her fiscal programs, policy on public private partnerships (PPP), infrastructure investment, capacity building.
The Liberian delegation at the meetings also included Agriculture, Minister, Dr. Alexander Nuetah, Deputy Finance Minister for Economic Affairs Hon. Dehpue Y. Zuo and the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Washington D.C. Isaac Yeah, Mr Edward Smith, Chief of Office Staff to the Minister and the Communication Director at the Ministry, Mrs. Patience Senkpeni Kumeh....amongst others.