MONROVIA – Former Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government official Dr. Lester Tenny has unleashed one of the most blistering critiques yet against his former political allies, describing CDC supporters and officials as “economic rapists” who presided over an era of rampant kleptocracy and now pretend to question the Boakai administration’s projected 2026 national budget of US$1.2 billion.
Dr. Tenny, who once served within the CDC government but has since broken ranks, argued that there is nothing extraordinary or unrealistic about the administration’s fiscal projection. According to him, the criticisms emerging from CDC circles only expose what he describes as their misunderstanding of basic economic principles and their history of mismanaging public finances.
He emphasized that the US$1.2 billion budget target is rooted in sound fiscal logic, pointing out that Liberia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) currently stands at around US$4 billion. He explained that an annual budget representing 25 to 30 percent of GDP aligns with global fiscal norms and reflects a reasonable benchmark for the country’s economic ambitions. “The economics is quite simple. No miracle, no hallucination, just plain economics,” he said, dismissing claims that the Boakai administration was engaging in unrealistic fiscal forecasting.
Dr. Tenny further stated that achieving this milestone is possible if the government effectively identifies and optimizes revenue streams, especially within the extractive sector, while preparing the service industry for future expansion. He argued that renewed efforts to enhance resource mobilization will be essential for expanding fiscal space and reducing dependence on external support.
His remarks come a day after President Joseph Nyuma Boakai submitted the Draft National Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 to the House of Representatives. The submission was made through Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and presented to House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon at the Capitol Building on Friday, November 7, 2025. The 2026 budget is now before lawmakers for scrutiny and debate.
With Liberia’s fiscal challenges still pressing and public expectations for economic recovery mounting, the proposed budget is expected to generate rigorous national discussion. Dr. Tenny’s fiery intervention highlights the deepening divide between the current administration and its predecessor over responsibility for Liberia’s financial stagnation and the direction of its economic future.
As legislators begin deliberations, the country appears headed for one of its most closely watched budget debates in recent years, one already colored by technical arguments, political rivalry, and strong accusations.
