–Allegedly Uses Off-Budget Spending To Amass Wealth For Presidential Ambition
The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has been in the center of financial indiscipline and off-budget spending as reported by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) in its 2025 Consolidated Account report. The report revealed that the Ngafuan-led Ministry of Finance Spent about US$2.8 million without accounting—reducing the allotment of some ministries and agencies while increasing others without any justification.
Financial and economic analysts have expressed dissatisfaction in Ngafuan’s first year as Finance Minister under the Boakai-Koung administration, observing that as a former Minister of Finance he should know the do’s and don’ts at the entity, act in the moral confines of his position, and not engage in financial malpractices, which he had criticized the previous administration for.
One of the critics, the former Director of the Department of Budget and Planning of the Ministry of Finance who resigned barely two months ago, Saye-Maye Cole, has denigrated his former boss, Ngafuan, and likened him to a corrupt and biased “susu pa” who determines the distribution and disbursement of funds to government-spending entities based on his alleged personal and financial interest.
Cole observed that off-budget spending, which Ngafuan was hooked for by the GAC report, is the easiest way of dubiously getting money from government, alleging that Ngafuan’s ambition to run for President in 2029 has greatly interfered with the running of the ministry.
He further alleged that between 5:00 p.m.—11:00 p.m. the 9th floor of the Finance Ministry is turned into the central command of Ngafuan’s political ground, with militants and paid media professionals.
Cole further alleged that Minister Ngafuan is inept and does not have the administrative capacity to handle the administrative duties of the Finance Ministry. He said because of Ngafuan’s ineptitude, President Joseph N. Boakai is now appointing committees to drive development plans and boast the economy, citing the committees set up to ensure stable electricity, reduce the price of commodities, and so on. He said these are roles of the finance minister that address constraints of the nation’s development agenda, but Ngafuan is busy with politics and social media—posting pictures from workshops and conferences that brings nothing to the economy.
He accused Ngafuan of making the same mistakes that were made by former finance ministers, such as Samuel Tweah and Boima Kamara, which led to the poor state of the economy.
The Hot Pepper has launched an investigation into allegations that Minister Ngafuan is shielding corruption at the ministry. According to information, the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) has conducted several investigations and hooked Deputy Minister for Administration, Bill McGill Jones, for fraud, but Minister Ngafuan has swept the investigations under the rug and vehemently refused to turn Jones over to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Investigation (LACC) for prosecution.
Some of the investigations were reportedly conducted on the US$200,000 painting contract of the Finance Ministry; the purchase of two elevators, which have a market value of US$50,000 but Deputy Minister Jones inflicted it to over US$200,000; the 2024 Christmas rice for staff, which he allegedly put at US$35 per bag—claiming it was “country rice” when it was not, as well as off-budget spending.
Additionally, Minister Ngafuan also stands accused of demoting and firing directors who do not support or align with his ambition for 2029’s general and presidential elections.
Investigation continues.
