MONROVIA, LIBERIA – On Monday, August 19, 2024, Gbarpolu County Senator and former Finance and Development Planning Minister, Amara Mohammed Konneh, presented a powerful analysis of legislative spending over the last six years, sparking renewed discussions about transparency and fiscal responsibility in the Liberian government. In his statement, Konneh drew attention to the alarming growth of off-budget expenditures by the 54th Legislature, which totaled around USD 300 million during this period.
“This graph, sourced from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), reveals the troubling pattern of off-budget spending,” Konneh wrote. “The long blue bars represent the approved budgets—those agreed upon by the executive and legislature—while the yellow zig-zag line shows additional spending outside of the approved budgets.”
He further elaborated on the graph, highlighting that every fiscal year saw significant off-budget expenditures, with a particularly concerning 45.45% increase between FY2022 and FY2023, which coincided with the 2023 election year. According to Konneh, the average 16.23% growth in spending for what he described as a “low-performing” legislature raises red flags.
Despite substantial expenditure, persistent issues such as the Capitol Building’s leaking roofs, flooding, and infrastructure deterioration remain unsolved. Konneh also noted low staff salaries, limited office spaces, and non-functional facilities, underscoring the misallocation of funds and the need for institutional investments.
“Legislative staffers haven’t seen a meaningful pay increase since the first Unity Party administration,” Konneh pointed out, urging the legislature to prioritize reform and ensure that funds are directed towards meaningful improvements.
A core issue he raised was the prevalence of nepotism in the legislature, which has become a reliable source of employment for family members. Additionally, Konneh called out the entrenched culture of repeating past mistakes, despite the frustrations voiced by many lawmakers.
Konneh’s concerns extend beyond spending practices. He revealed that members of the 54th Legislature have privately expressed frustration regarding undisclosed financial transactions recently unearthed in a Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) compliance audit report. The report highlighted suspicious withdrawals totaling USD 178 million in checks written to individuals over the counter, as if the CBL were functioning as a commercial bank. Konneh argued that this money could have been used to pave 178 kilometers of roads, pointing to a severe lack of transparency.
“This lack of transparency concerns both new and established Senate members,” Konneh stated, calling for a full audit of the legislature to address these issues. He emphasized that meaningful reform will require strong leadership and a commitment to transparency and accountability from every lawmaker, specifically urging Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence to lead differently.
Konneh advocated for the establishment of a well-equipped and respected legislative budget office, which he believes would help improve the budget approval process, monitoring, and evaluation (M&E) of budget execution.
“Business, as usual, for the past 177 years has not worked. Many of our peer nations, far younger than us, have surpassed us in development, good governance, and economic growth,” Konneh said. “If we continue on our current path, we will languor in squalor perpetually.”
Konneh concluded by reaffirming his commitment to raising critical governance issues: “We will keep flagging significant governance issues until our colleagues hear us,” he stated.
