Liberia: 'U.S.$1 Billion Revenue Now Funding Salaries, Health, Education'

In Liberia, the government has reached a significant milestone, generating over US$1 billion in revenue since January 2026. Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan revealed that this substantial revenue is currently being allocated to various essential public services, including salaries, healthcare, education, and debt repayment.

The minister clarified that the money is actively being used to support the country's priorities, rather than remaining stagnant in government accounts. The increased revenue has enabled the government to fulfill its obligations, such as paying salaries for public servants, funding hospital drugs, constructing educational buildings at Tubman University, and providing transportation for hospital workers at Jackson F. Doe Regional Referral Hospital.

Furthermore, the government has expanded its payroll by adding more than 200 traditional chiefs in Grand Kru County and approximately 90 chiefs in Maryland County, all funded through the national budget. Ngafuan emphasized the importance of strengthening Liberia's domestic resource mobilization capacity and improving public financial management, stating that the government plans to continue implementing reforms to boost domestic revenue while ensuring resources are directed towards national development priorities.

He also highlighted the lower salaries of civil servants in Liberia compared to those in neighboring countries like Ghana and Nigeria. Lastly, Ngafuan discussed the progress made in road connectivity to southeastern Liberia, including the extension of road access to Harper in Maryland County and the completion of the Cavalla River Bridge by March 2028, which will strengthen the road connection between Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire.