In the wake of mounting allegations surrounding the tampering of the 2024 National Budget, the National Legislature is soon to initiate a probe into the matter.
Since the budget’s passage, concerns have been rife, with accusations of alterations and delays in its publication sparking widespread public discontent.
Lawmakers, particularly within the House of Representatives, have voiced their frustrations, claiming that the national budget has been mired in controversy, leading to a crisis of confidence both within the legislature and among the general public.
This controversy has escalated to such an extent that Speaker of the House, J. Fonati Koffa, has publicly committed to establishing a joint committee with the Senate to thoroughly investigate these allegations.
Speaking on social media, Speaker Koffa declared, “Following numerous allegations of budget alterations, I will be asking the Leadership of the House of Representatives for the authority to appoint a Joint Committee with the Senate for a thorough investigation. We must not only be transparent, but we must also be perceived to be transparent.” His statement underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for decisive action to restore public trust.
The issue came to a head in June 2024 when the House of Representatives summoned officials from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) to address claims of illegal alterations to the 2024 National Budget Law. The House’s actions were prompted by a communication from Representative Clarence G. Gar of Margibi County’s Electoral District #5. Rep. Gar highlighted the unauthorized replacement of the Legislative Budget Office (LBO) with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the budget’s final version, a move he and his colleagues viewed as a blatant violation of legislative procedures.
Rep. Gar specifically recalled the sequence of events that led to this unauthorized alteration. He pointed out that during the final stages of the budget deliberations, a motion was made by Hon. James Kolleh of District #2, Bong County, which proposed replacing all mentions of the LBO in the budget with the PAC. This motion was unanimously approved by the majority of lawmakers and subsequently passed by the House for implementation. However, Rep. Gar and others have since argued that this change was not reflected in the final document as intended, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the budgetary process.
Further complicating the matter, Montserrado County Senator Saah Joseph raised additional issues during a press conference in June 2024. Senator Joseph accused the MFDP of making unauthorized reductions to the budgetary allocations for key institutions such as the National Fire Service (NFS) and Roberts International Airport (RIA) after the budget had already been approved by the Legislature. According to Senator Joseph, the NFS saw its allocation slashed from $3 million to a mere $2 million—a reduction he condemned as potentially crippling for an agency responsible for safeguarding lives and property, particularly during Liberia’s dry season, when fire risks are heightened.
Senator Joseph also disclosed that the RIA, despite facing numerous operational challenges, had its budgetary allocation similarly reduced by the MFDP. These unauthorized alterations, he argued, not only undermine the legislative authority but also jeopardize the effective functioning of essential public services. The senator’s revelations have further fueled public outrage and calls for accountability.
The resignation of Finance Minister Boima Kamara has added another layer of complexity to this unfolding drama. Minister Kamara’s abrupt departure, reportedly due to health reasons, has led to widespread speculation that it may have been prompted by the intense pressure and scrutiny he faced in relation to the budget controversy. His resignation has left a vacuum in the MFDP’s leadership at a critical juncture, as the ministry grapples with accusations of misconduct and mismanagement.
The House of Representatives’ decision to probe these allegations is a crucial step in addressing the deepening crisis. However, the outcome of this investigation will be pivotal in determining whether public trust can be restored in Liberia’s budgetary process. The allegations of tampering, if proven true, would represent a significant breach of public trust and a serious threat to the country’s democratic institutions. The Liberian people deserve transparency and accountability from their leaders, and this investigation must be conducted with the utmost rigor and impartiality to ensure that justice is served.
