The administrations of both President Joseph N. Boakai and former President George Weah are facing intense scrutiny and criticism for failing to publish pre-budget statements, despite repeated calls from advocacy groups for increased transparency and accountability in government fiscal practices.
The ongoing issue was highlighted at a major press conference over the weekend in Monrovia, where Abraham Varney, the Country Lead for BudgIT, presented findings from the 2023 Open Budget Survey (OBS) Report. Conducted by the International Budget Partnership in collaboration with the Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREED), the report assigned the Liberian government a dismal score of 35% in budget oversight, signaling significant weaknesses in the legislature’s role and auditing processes.
Since the inception of the Boakai’s leadership, which saw the 2024 national budget, there has been no report of Pre-Budget Statement released.
BudgIT, a civic society organization dedicated to fiscal transparency, emphasized the importance of timely and accessible financial data to ensure active citizen participation in governance. Varney stressed that the lack of a pre-budget statement under Boakai’s administration mirrors similar failings during Weah’s tenure, underlining systemic issues in Liberia’s budgetary processes.
“The government’s score of 35% in Budget Oversight reflects a troubling lack of transparency and accountability,” Varney stated. “We urge the national government to address the recommendations outlined in the 2023 report to foster greater openness and improve public trust.”
Key among these recommendations is the timely publication of the pre-budget statement, which BudgIT insists should be made available at least one month before the Executive’s Budget Proposal is submitted to the legislature. Additionally, audit reports should be published online within 18 months following the end of the corresponding fiscal year, and mid-year reviews should be disseminated within three months after the fiscal midpoint.
Varney also highlighted the importance of including comparisons between planned and actual non-financial outcomes, as well as between original macroeconomic forecasts and actual results, in the Year-End Report to enhance the comprehensiveness of the Citizens Budget.
Despite some progress, such as the government’s score of 52% in transparency—a slight improvement over the global average of 45%—BudgIT remains critical of Liberia’s performance in public participation. The country scored a mere 15% in this area, consistent with the global average but only a modest increase from 6% in 2021. Varney attributed this improvement to collaborative efforts between the government and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in disseminating budget information to the public.
To further strengthen public participation, BudgIT recommends that the government pilot mechanisms to monitor budget implementation and expand opportunities for civil society organizations and the public to engage during budget formulation. The Fiscal Transparency Advisory Working Group, established by the government, should maintain continuous consultation and deliberation with citizens, especially focusing on social spending, policies, and macroeconomic forecasts.
BudgIT also calls for greater legislative engagement, urging the National Legislature to facilitate public testimonies during budget hearings and actively involve vulnerable and underrepresented communities. The organization emphasizes that legislative committees should scrutinize the Executive’s Budget Proposal and publish their analyses online, ensuring robust debate and approval before the start of the budget year.
To enhance audit oversight, BudgIT recommends that the General Auditing Commission (GAC) secure adequate funding and undergo periodic reviews by an independent agency. This, they argue, will bolster the Commission’s ability to perform its duties effectively.
BudgIT however expressed willingness to collaborate with the Liberian government to implement these recommendations, aiming to improve the country’s future OBS scores and restore public confidence in its governance.
The call for action is clear: only through increased transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement can Liberia hope to build a more robust and trustworthy fiscal system.
