Monrovia – At the inception of the 55th National Legislature of Liberia, a high-profile government official, speaking on condition of anonymity to a team of reporters said the national budget has historically served as a vehicle for top officials in both the executive and legislative branches to enrich themselves. By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected] The official stated for corruption to be effectively addressed, Liberia’s fiscal budget must be managed in a way that benefits the broader public rather than just the few with access to it.
The official argued if the Boakai-Koung administration is serious about combating graft; it must prioritize proper budget management. However, recent off-budget expenditures reported by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFPA) suggest otherwise, revealing several controversial expenses incurred by the UP-led government from January to August 2024. Expenditure Breakdown Among the expenditures reported, the Liberian government allocated US$2,307,609 to “unexplained miscellaneous” expenses and US$2.
5 million for covert operations through the National Security Agency (NSA). The House of Representatives spent US$1.5 million on special sessions, while the Senate expended US$812,612 for similar purposes.
Further expenditures included US$65,000 by the Ministry of State for the funeral of former Liberia Revenue Authority Commissioner General Thomas Doe Nah and US$191,679 in contributions to the Muslim community. Additional s.