By: Archie Boan
Despite President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s campaign vow in 2023 to audit the National Security Agency (NSA), his administration has reportedly continued the trend of massive, unexplained funding to the agency pouring in over US$49.3 million within just three years, according to the national budget projections.
Records show that between Fiscal Years 2024 to 2026, the NSA is expected to receive a staggering US$49,385,382 an amount critics describe as excessive and unaccounted for. This continues a long-standing pattern of opaque spending across successive governments, with the agency often shielded from public scrutiny under the guise of “national security operations.”
A breakdown of the allocations reveals: 2024: US$13,365,634
2025: US$13,829,120
2026: US$22,190,628
The total nearly US$50 million in 36 months has raised serious questions about transparency and accountability within the Boakai administration, especially after the President’s earlier promise to reform and audit the country’s security and financial institutions.
During ex-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s tenure, the NSA reportedly consumed US$61.12 million over eight years (FY2010/2011–FY2017/2018), representing 40% of an aggregate national security spending of US$151.93 million.
Under ex-President George Weah, the NSA’s budget ballooned further to US$79.83 million over six years (FY2018/2019–FY2023), accounting for 52.5% of the total.
Now, under President Boakai, projections indicate that the NSA’s share will continue to grow, reaching nearly US$50 million in just three years a trend that suggests the agency remains one of the most financially privileged and least accountable government institutions.
Despite repeated public calls for transparency, government officials have maintained that the NSA cannot be audited, citing the “sensitivity” of its operations. Critics, however, argue that this blanket secrecy only fuels corruption and misuse of state funds, while millions of ordinary Liberians continue to struggle with poverty, unemployment, and poor social services.
