MONROVIA, LIBERIA – An opposition figure has criticized Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, accusing him of corruption and a profound failure to uphold public integrity. In a write-up published on Sunday, January 26, 2025, opposition leader Matthew Nyanplu called out Ngafuan for his role in perpetuating what he described as a “gangster paradise” under the Unity Party (UP) government, with specific allegations about the Minister’s conduct in relation to governance and public procurement processes.
Nyanplu’s condemnation centers around Ngafuan’s behavior since assuming office as Finance Minister. Despite having presented himself as an advocate for anti-corruption measures and good governance before taking office, the Minister’s actions have raised serious concerns about his commitment to these ideals. In his public critique, Nyanplu remarked, “Ngafuan’s conduct has proven to us that, like others, he rails against corruption and bad governance while out of power, but in power those standards he advocated disappear.”
“Ngafuan belongs in the dungeons of Liberia’s political history. He should be confined there and never again approach the Liberian people to seek their leadership,” Nyanplu added, signaling a definitive break with the Minister and his political allies. He emphasized the need for leaders who maintain ethical standards and the rule of law at all times.
One of the most serious allegations levied against Ngafuan concerns his involvement in the House of Representatives leadership crisis. According to Nyanplu, Ngafuan failed to advise President Joseph Nyuma Boakai or the government to stand firm with the law during the crisis, which saw a faction of lawmakers seeking to illegally usurp Speaker J. Fonati Koffa’s position. Nyanplu claims that Ngafuan actively abetted the actions of the renegade lawmakers by helping to craft the government’s response to the crisis and providing them with critical documents.
Nyanplu writes, “We have it on good authority that Ngafuan counseled and abetted the conduct of those renegade lawmakers; he crafted the UP government response to the crisis, delivered the draft budget to the renegade lawmakers through the chief clerk with clear instructions that the budget go to the renegade lawmakers.” He further accuses Ngafuan of aiding the unconstitutional actions by the renegade lawmakers, thereby contributing to the erosion of Liberia’s democratic processes.
The opposition leader further revealed that Ngafuan allegedly instructed the Chief Clerk of the House to deliver the draft national budget to the renegade lawmakers, despite their actions violating both the Constitution and the House’s internal rules. The primary argument from these renegade lawmakers was that Speaker Koffa’s refusal to resign was a strategic move orchestrated by the former ruling party, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), to obstruct the government’s operations. “Their principal argument was that Koffa’s intransigence not to resign was a calculated ploy by the former ruling party to stall government operations,” Nyanplu wrote. He claimed that Ngafuan facilitated the illegal actions, which undermined Liberia’s constitutional governance.
“By this single conduct, Augustine Ngafuan has failed to demonstrate a moral high ground and the required integrity that must go with national leadership,” Nyanplu continued. According to him, the Minister’s actions, which defied legal standards and norms, showcased a disturbing disregard for the country’s governance structure.
Another issue raised by Nyanplu involved an alleged fraudulent contract awarded under Ngafuan’s watch at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. The controversial contract, worth $244,000 USD, was for painting services and was awarded to a company reportedly linked to the relatives of Bill McGill Jones, the Deputy for Administration at the Ministry. Nyanplu claims that the contract was secured through a forged recommendation letter from the U.S. Embassy, which the Embassy later denounced as fraudulent.
Despite the exposure of the fraudulent document and the clear irregularities in the procurement process, Nyanplu accused Ngafuan of failing to take any corrective action. “Mr Ngafuan, as Minister, has not yet terminated that fraudulently secured contract after it became clear that a star recommendation letter from the US Embassy was forged,” Nyanplu said. The leader criticized the Finance Minister for turning a blind eye to the corruption that had been uncovered, further tarnishing his reputation as someone who claims to prioritize integrity and transparency.
The issue of integrity was also raised in connection with Ngafuan’s leadership role at the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geoinformation Services (LISGIS). As the statutory chair of the LISGIS board, Ngafuan is in a position of significant influence over the agency. However, concerns have been raised about a potential conflict of interest, given that his younger brother, Richard Ngafuan, serves as the Director-General of LISGIS. Nyanplu expressed alarm over the potential for nepotism, noting that this familial connection could undermine the credibility of the institution.
“We have raised the issue of conflict of interest,” Nyanplu wrote, adding that Ngafuan has taken no action in response. “Mr Ngafuan has not budged. He has carried on as though everything is ok.” This, according to Nyanplu, highlights the Minister’s failure to address the serious concerns about governance and the ethical standards required from public officials.
Additionally, Nyanplu highlighted further concerns over possible violations of Liberia’s Code of Conduct Act, citing the fact that Richard Ngafuan’s wife also works at LISGIS. This, he argues, raises serious questions about the integrity and transparency of the agency’s operations. Despite bringing these concerns to Ngafuan’s attention, the opposition leader claims that the Minister has taken no action to address the situation.
“We cannot only see bad governance when we are outside of government. But inside, everything else becomes okay as long as it suits our interests and leanings,” Nyanplu stated, condemning Ngafuan’s failure to act on the conflict of interest issues at LISGIS. This comment further underscored the opposition’s frustration with what they perceive as a double standard in the Minister’s leadership approach.
For Nyanplu, Ngafuan’s actions and inactions reflect the broader governance failures of Liberia’s leadership. “For these three cardinal integrity failures, we denounce Mr. Augustine Ngafuan as ‘the same kind of Liberian leaders’ who enjoy corrupt conduct, condone it, and aid and abet it,” he declared, marking a clear political break with the Finance Minister.
In the conclusion of his statement, Nyanplu declared that Liberia has no future under the leadership of Augustine Ngafuan. “We draw a political battle line with him and the Unity Party,” he wrote, signaling that the opposition party is prepared to challenge both the Finance Minister and the ruling party in the upcoming elections. This bold statement represents a challenge to the current political establishment, emphasizing that Liberia’s future cannot be secured under the leadership of individuals who enable corruption and fail to maintain the integrity of public office.
