MONROVIA – The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing education and bolstering economic resilience amid global financial challenges. Speaking on March 15, 2025, at the 216th birth anniversary celebration of Liberia’s first president, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, Ngafuan lauded Roberts’ legacy of philanthropy and emphasized the critical role of education in driving national development.
Ngafuan, himself a beneficiary of the Joseph Jenkins Roberts Educational Foundation, reflected on how scholarships paved the way for his own academic and professional achievements. He credited his journey from a struggling student to Liberia’s chief financial steward to the generosity of those who believed in investing in human capital.
“JJ Roberts was not the world’s richest man in terms of cash, but he was one of the richest in terms of empathy and care,” Ngafuan stated, emphasizing the importance of continuing Roberts’ vision through sustained educational investments.
In response to recent cuts in USAID funding to Liberia, Ngafuan outlined a three-pronged strategy to maintain financial stability: rationalizing government expenditures, increasing domestic revenue, and forging stronger international partnerships. He cited the implementation of fiscal rules to reduce unnecessary spending, the success of raising nearly $700 million in domestic revenue in 2024, and ongoing negotiations with global partners like the European Union and the World Bank.
Ngafuan also announced plans to revamp the Ministry of Finance’s internship program, providing young Liberians, including JJ Roberts scholars, with hands-on experience in government institutions. This initiative, he said, would eventually be expanded into a nationwide internship and vocational job program starting in 2026.
The finance minister reiterated that President Joseph Boakai’s administration remains focused on transforming Liberia into a lower middle-income country within five years. He urged government officials to uphold accountability, reminding them that public offices are held in trust for the Liberian people.
“The road ahead will be bumpy at times, but just as turbulence does not stop a good pilot from reaching the destination, we will achieve our development goals,” Ngafuan concluded.
