Augustine Ngafuan Confirmed as Liberia’s Finance Minister

Monrovia – Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has been confirmed as Liberia’s new Finance Minister following a decisive vote by the Liberian Senate today. Ngafuan, who previously served in the same role during former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s administration, takes over from Boima Kamara with a promise to tackle the contentious Harmonization Policy issues inherited from the George Weah government.

The Senate’s decision comes on the heels of a confirmation hearing on September 5, where Ngafuan outlined his vision for addressing the public sector’s wage discrepancies and fostering a fair compensation framework. The Harmonization Policy, designed to stabilize the public service wage system under the former government led by the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), has been a topic of heated debate due to its impact on government payroll structures.

During his hearing, Ngafuan detailed his plans to reevaluate the policy with the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and other governmental bodies to ensure it meets the current administration’s goals for equitable and sustainable wage distribution. “One of my top priorities as Minister of Finance will be to work with the CSA and other government institutions to conduct a thorough review of the policy and its implementation,” Ngafuan asserted.

His appointment was confirmed by all 26 senators present during today’s session.

Ngafuan’s return to the finance ministry is seen as a strategic move by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration to harness his prior experience and expertise to drive fiscal reforms and address critical economic challenges facing Liberia. His plans include enhancing the financial viability of key sectors such as energy, mining, and infrastructure, while also focusing on improving revenue generation and administration.

Additionally, the new finance minister emphasized the importance of technology and digitization in closing revenue leakages and enhancing the efficiency of revenue collection. “We shall push all revenue-generating agencies to their full potential, but we must be cautious not to overburden them,” Ngafuan noted, signaling a balanced approach towards fiscal management.

Ngafuan also pledged to bolster the operational capacities of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the National Port Authority to facilitate smoother business registrations and operations in Liberia. His commitment extends to supporting the country’s climate action agenda, collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency and other relevant bodies to tap into climate finance opportunities.