Liberia: Full Off-Budget Expenditure Totaling US$15.6M - FrontPageAfrica

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Monrovia – FrontPage Africa has obtained a breakdown of off-budget expenditures totaling US$15,631,813, submitted to the Legislature by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP). The report reveals several significant and controversial expenses incurred by the UP-led government. The money was spent between January and August 2024.

Among the reported expenditures, the Liberian government spent US$2,307,609 on “unexplained miscellaneous” and an additional US$2.5 million on covert operations through the National Security Agency (NSA). The House of Representatives used US$1.5 million for its special sitting, while the Senate expended US$812,612 for the same purpose.

Further expenditures include US$65,000 by the Ministry of State for the funeral of former Liberia Revenue Authority’s Commissioner General Thomas Doe Nah, and US$191,679 for the President contributions to the Muslim community.

Additional spending by the Ministry of State includes US$30,880 for the funeral of Associate Justice Joseph Nagbe, US$250,000 for the completion of the VIP lounge at Roberts International Airport, US$28,000 in operational expenses for the Office of the Vice President and US$25,000 as a contribution to the funeral of James Quiqui.

Other notable expenditures include US$41,667 by the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) to execute its statutory mandate US$61,062 for operational expenses of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), US$1,123,000 for the purchase of armored and unarmored vehicles for the President and Vice President, through the Executive Protective Service (EPS) and US$250,000 for recovery operations by the National Disaster Management Agency for miners trapped in Rivercess County. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also spent US$40,000 for the Miss Earth 2024 beauty pageant. Additionally, the Ministry of State reported the following disbursements: US$30,000 for the funeral of the late Hon. Othello Gongar, former Minister of Education. US$10,000 for travel, accommodation, and an honorarium for Dr. Robtel N. Pailey, the national orator for Liberia’s 2024 Independence Day celebration and US$60,000 for the President’s engagements with Christian, Muslim, and youth leaders. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spent US$500,000 on Liberia’s 2024 Independence Day celebrations, US$40,000 for the Mano River Union Conference, and US$100,000 to cover moving costs for foreign service employees.

Additionally, the report shows US$453,000 was disbursed to the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) for the production of reports, US$291,552 was paid by the Ministry of Justice for legal services in representing Liberia in the SOLWAY Mining Liberia arbitration, US$225,000 was allocated to the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) for drug abuse prevention and US$125,000 was used by FTI for repair and maintenance. 

This report comes many lawmakers on Capitol Hill have expressed outrage over what they describe as rampant corruption and questionable appropriations. These concerns come as the Legislature debates the recast budget.

Rep. Musa Hassan Bility (District #7, Nimba County) expressed his dismay on Facebook, stating that the recast budget is “an instrument of fraud and money laundering.” He further vowed to resist its passage “by any means necessary.”