CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – The Liberian Senate has authorized an audit of two major World Bank–funded agriculture programs following a formal complaint filed on Thursday, November 27, 2025, by Margibi County Senator Nathaniel F. McGill, who alleges that more than US$200 million intended to boost farming and rural livelihoods has been mismanaged. The Senate’s decision, reached in plenary on Capitol Hill, marks one of the most significant accountability actions taken this legislative year amid rising concerns over poor governance in the agriculture sector.
Senator McGill petitioned the Senate to probe the Smallholders Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (START-P) and the Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP), both implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture. He told his colleagues that despite the substantial financial support Liberia received to improve food security, empower farmers, and modernize agribusiness, the country has seen “very little to no corresponding results” in rural communities where the projects were meant to have impact.
According to McGill, many of the farmers targeted under the programs continue to face the same challenges that existed before the projects were introduced, including limited access to inputs, low harvest yields, and a lack of tangible support from government agencies. He insisted that the inability of the Ministry of Agriculture to provide clear documentation on how the funds were utilized raises troubling questions about transparency and accountability within the sector.
The Senator emphasized that the scale of the alleged mismanagement was too severe to ignore, especially at a time when Liberia continues to rely heavily on imported food. He argued that the failure to properly account for donor resources undermines the country’s development goals and damages the trust of international partners who fund critical national programs. McGill described the situation as “a glaring red flag” that must be immediately addressed before further damage occurs.
Senators across party lines agreed with McGill’s assertions, noting that the allegations strike at the heart of Liberia’s food security agenda and the well-being of rural families. In a rare show of unity, the Plenary unanimously endorsed his request for a full-scale forensic audit by the General Auditing Commission (GAC). Lawmakers stressed that public resources, particularly those meant to support vulnerable smallholder farmers, must be protected from mismanagement and abuse.
The Senate’s mandate tasks the GAC with conducting a detailed review of all expenditures, contracts, procurement processes, and activities associated with START-P and RETRAP. The audit is expected to determine whether the funds were used in alignment with project goals and whether any irregularities or violations of financial regulations occurred. Senators believe the findings will help clarify long-standing doubts about the projects’ performance and financial integrity.
In the wake of the decision, public attention has shifted sharply toward the Ministry of Agriculture, which has faced repeated criticism for failing to deliver measurable results despite receiving hundreds of millions in donor funding over the years. Many Liberians, especially farmers in rural counties, have expressed frustration that promised tools, seeds, equipment, and training often do not reach their communities.
The Senate noted that restoring confidence in donor-supported agricultural programs is vital to Liberia’s economic future, particularly as the country struggles to create jobs and address chronic food insecurity. Legislators warned that if mismanagement is confirmed, individuals responsible must be held liable in order to deter future abuse of public resources.
The anticipated GAC report is expected to generate substantial national interest, as it could determine the fate of the projects and the officials involved. Lawmakers have also signaled that they will not hesitate to take corrective action, including potential hearings, sanctions, or legislative reforms, depending on the audit’s outcome.
