The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has commenced a series of sectoral deep dive sessions aimed at assessing government budget execution, identifying implementation challenges, and charting a path forward for accelerated development.
The process officially kicked off on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), which plays a central role in the country’s infrastructure development and is considered the “epicenter of delivery” in the sector.
These sessions will culminate in the identification of key takeaways and firm commitments from participating government institutions.
Providing an overview of the initiative, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, emphasized the urgency of action.
“The Liberian people are hungry for progress and are growing increasingly impatient with delays. We must identify the root causes of these delays and act swiftly to resolve them,” Minister Ngafuan stated.
He highlighted recent international engagements, including meetings in Kuwait City and participation in the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings—as evidence of the government’s active pursuit of development support. These engagements yielded renewed commitments, including funding for the continuation of the Gbarnga-Mendikorma road project.
While acknowledging the government’s efforts to secure resources and commitments, Minister Ngafuan stressed that the responsibility for timely implementation rests with government ministries and agencies.
“We must move faster, and we must do so with quality and excellence,” he said. He also praised the strong working relationship between the MFDP and the Ministry of Public Works.
“Roads, bridges, and other infrastructure are vital to our nation’s progress.
After these sessions, there will be no excuses for delays,” the Minister declared.
The deep dive sessions will continue this week, with planned visits to the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday and the Ministry of Health on Thursday.
Additional ministries will be engaged in the coming week.
“Let it be clear: from this point forward, delays will no longer be tolerated,” Minister Ngafuan warned.
Welcoming the MFDP team, Public Works Minister Roland Lafayette Giddings reiterated the need to eliminate bottlenecks in infrastructure project implementation.
He emphasized the importance of resolving internal government issues to increase pressure on development partners and contractors to deliver on their commitments in a timely manner.
