By Our Reporter | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s health sector through increased budgetary support and improved financial management, pointing to steady gains in both funding and execution.
Speaking on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Ngafuan emphasized that the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is focused on expanding fiscal space for health by raising public investment and ensuring more efficient use of allocated resources.
“The government remains committed to expanding fiscal space for health through sustained increases in public sector financing and improved budget execution,” Ngafuan said, noting that the health sector continues to receive growing attention within the national budget.
According to him, Liberia’s health budget has climbed to US$110 million for the 2026 fiscal year, marking a 21 percent increase compared to the previous year. He described the rise as part of a deliberate policy shift aimed at strengthening human capital and improving service delivery across the country.
The minister outlined a consistent upward trend in allocations, growing from US$80.3 million in 2024 to US$91.3 million in 2025, before reaching the current level. He said the pattern reflects a clear prioritization of health financing within government spending.
Ngafuan made the remarks during his participation in the regional launch of the World Bank Group’s Health, Nutrition, and Population Strategy in Accra, themed “Fit to Prosper.” The regional forum brought together finance and health ministers, development partners, and policy leaders to align strategies on innovative financing, domestic resource mobilization, and results-driven investments aimed at accelerating progress toward universal health coverage. Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan attended alongside Liberia’s Health Minister, Louise M. Kpoto, reinforcing the government’s push to place health financing at the center of its development agenda.
During a high-level panel discussion on “Fixing Finance,” Ngafuan stressed the need for countries to not only increase spending but also enhance efficiency. “Improving both the scale and effectiveness of public spending is essential to achieving sustainable development outcomes,” he noted.
The session, moderated by Anita Erskine, included contributions from Victor Asare Bampoe and Awa Marie Coll-Seck, who shared insights on strengthening health systems across Africa.
The “Fit to Prosper” initiative by the World Bank Group seeks to address persistent gaps in healthcare delivery across West and Central Africa. It focuses on building resilient systems, improving access to essential services, and drawing lessons from past financing challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beyond budget increases, Ngafuan highlighted significant improvements in how funds are utilized within Liberia’s health sector. He revealed that disbursement rates rose from 70 percent in 2023 to 88 percent in 2024, and further to 97.7 percent in 2025.
“This progress reflects stronger public financial management systems and increased absorptive capacity within the health sector,” he stated, attributing the gains to better coordination between the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Ministry of Health.
He also pointed to targeted reforms, including a detailed review of expenditures and a focused engagement at the Ministry of Health that resulted in an implementation compact designed to remove bottlenecks and accelerate service delivery.
Ngafuan stressed that investments outside the health sector also play a crucial role in improving outcomes. “Infrastructure such as roads, sanitation, and energy are critical enablers of an effective health system,” he said.
He cited improvements at Jackson F. Doe Memorial Regional Referral Hospital, where better road access to Tappita has increased patient traffic and enhanced service efficiency.
