MONROVIA – From wage increases for thousands of workers to securing nearly a billion dollars in global financing, Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan’s first year in office under the Boakai-Koung administration has been defined by bold reforms, citizen-centered policies, and a vision of “delivery, not promises.”
One year ago, Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan was appointed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., and confirmed by the Liberian Senate to lead the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP). Twelve months later, his stewardship is being hailed as a period of bold fiscal reforms, strategic investment in people and infrastructure, and renewed global engagement.
Operating under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), Hon. Ngafuan has championed a philosophy of “delivery, not promises”, a principle that has begun to reshape Liberia’s development efforts.
Homegrown Roadmap – The ARREST Agenda
In January 2025, the government launched the $7.6 billion ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. Partly, coordinated under Hon. Ngafuan’s leadership, the plan emerged from extensive national consultations and embodies a citizen-focused approach to development.
Built on six pillars, agriculture, infrastructure, governance, education, health, and tourism, the AAID is designed to address longstanding gaps while spurring inclusive growth. It also diversifies financing through domestic revenue, diaspora bonds, private sector participation, and donor partnerships.
At the launch, Hon. Ngafuan stressed Liberia’s ownership of its future: “The AAID is not just a plan on paper; it is a commitment to put Liberians at the center of our national development. For the first time, we are building a financing model that does not only depend on aid but taps into our people’s own resilience, resources, and creativity.”
Bigger, More Responsive Budget
The FY2025 national budget, valued at nearly $739 million, represented a 15.3% increase over the previous year. It was also one of the earliest budgets presented to the Legislature in recent history.
Economic growth is projected at 5.8%, fueled by gains in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and services. For Hon. Ngafuan, timeliness was as important as scale: “A timely budget is the lifeblood of government. It means teachers are paid on time, clinics are supplied on time, and projects begin on time. We are restoring credibility to fiscal governance.”
Wage Reform and Worker Protections
One of Hon. Ngafuan’s most impactful reforms came through wage restructuring. Delivering on President Boakai’s pledge, the MFDP ensured that no central government worker earns less than $150 per month, directly benefiting more than 28,000 employees.
Targeted raises also reached frontline workers: nurses, midwives, and physician assistants received $50 monthly increases, while specialist doctors earned an additional $225. Agriculture workers and security forces also saw improvements. For thousands of long-serving volunteer teachers and health workers, integration into the payroll ended years of uncertainty and hardship.
Equally historic was the extension of insurance coverage to more than 5,000 Liberia National Police officers, the first time such protection has been offered in the country’s security sector. “When we protect those who protect us, we are investing in national stability,” Hon. Ngafuan remarked.
Building Partnerships, Unlocking Resources
Hon. Ngafuan’s first year also delivered unprecedented external financing to accelerate Liberia’s development priorities, including €56 million in direct budget support and €7 million for public finance reforms from the European Union; €25 million EU grant for cassava, fisheries, and timber processing, targeting women, youth, and small businesses; $88.7 million GPE–World Bank grant for the EXCEL Project, strengthening early childhood and primary education, and a $490 million World Bank package to boost energy, agriculture, ICT, and education.
Other external financing support to Liberia under the aegis of Minister Ngafuan included the Arab development funding for the Gbarnga–Sanoyea–Voinjama road corridor, a critical transport artery; and a reaffirmation of Liberia’s eligibility for a possible $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact.
“Development finance is not about handouts; it is about partnerships,” Hon. Ngafuan emphasized. “Each agreement we sign is designed to create jobs, build skills, and expand opportunities for Liberians.”
Accountability Through Sectoral Deep Dives
In May, the MFDP introduced “sectoral deep dives”, intensive reviews of ministry budgets, spending, and project performance. This initiative revived dormant infrastructure projects and redirected resources to shovel-ready, high-impact programs.
“We cannot afford to have projects lying dormant while our people are in need. The deep dives are our way of saying: no more excuses. Delivery must happen where it matters most, ”Minister Ngafuan declared.
Elevating Liberia’s Voice Globally
In July, Hon. Ngafuan led a high-level delegation to Washington, D.C., engaging with the IMF, MCC, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, and senior White House officials.
The mission advanced Liberia’s Extended Credit Facility, explored climate finance through the Resilience and Sustainability Trust, and secured expanded U.S. backing for community-led health, education, and infrastructure projects, a reflection of Liberia’s renewed credibility on the global stage.
Investing in the Next Generation
In partnership with UNICEF, Liberia became the first country in West and Central Africa to institutionalize child-centered budgeting. For the first time, quarterly budget reports disaggregate spending on children, ensuring greater transparency.
A complementary national school feeding program was also introduced, improving both nutrition and learning outcomes. “Investing in children is not optional, it is the surest guarantee of a prosperous future,” Hon. Ngafuan stressed.
Foundation for the Future
As the Boakai-Koung administration enters its second year, Hon. Ngafuan’s record reflects both vision and execution. From wage reform to fiscal accountability, global financing to child-centered initiatives, and his first year has laid the groundwork for long-term transformation.
“Our responsibility at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is to ensure that every dollar works harder, every project reaches further and every Liberian feels the impact,” Hon. Ngafuan affirmed. “We are determined to build a Liberia that is inclusive, self-reliant, and globally respected.”