By Archie Boan
Over the past 17 years, Liberia’s National Security Agency (NSA) has spent a staggering US$190.3 million, raising serious questions about transparency, oversight, and priorities in government spending.
Successive administrations, including those of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, George Manneh Weah, and currently Joseph Nyumah Boakai, have all overseen ballooning NSA budgets, often with little public accounting.
NSA Spending by Administration
The NSA, established under the 1974 Executive Law, has seen exponential growth in its budget allocations:
During former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf regime, (FY2010-2018) there were over US$61.1 million budgeted for NSA over eight years. The annual spending ranged from US$1.75 million in 2010 to US$12.2 million in 2016.
And, also during the immediate past President George Manneh Weah regime, (FY2018-2023) there were again, over US$79.8 million budgeted over six years, including a record US$28.4 million in 2023.
Now President Joseph Nyumah Boakai (FY2024-2026): US$49.4 million has been budgeted for the NSA in just three years, with FY2026 projected at US$22.2 million.
On average, Liberia has spent US$11.2 million per year on the NSA, and projections suggest Boakai could reach nearly US$98.7 million by 2029 if current trends continue.
Concerns over Accountability
Despite the scale of spending, the NSA remains largely unaccountable. While Section 2.56 of the 1974 Executive Law mandates yearly audits by an auditor appointed by the President, successive leaders have resisted oversight.
President Boakai, who campaigned in 2023 promising to audit the NSA, recently conceded that “NSA cannot be audited.”
Critics argue this lack of accountability undermines public trust and raises questions about governance. “How can an agency spend millions annually, yet operate outside the reach of public scrutiny?” asked a prominent civil society advocate.
A Question of Priorities
Liberia faces pressing socio-economic challenges. Millions of citizens are unemployed, poverty remains widespread, and critical sectors like agriculture receive less funding than the NSA-US$13.6 million compared to US$22.1 million allocated to the NSA in FY2026.
Security experts also note that Liberia faces minimal terrorist threats, scoring 0.00 on the Global Terrorism Index, raising further doubts about the justification for such steep increases in NSA spending.
The Public Demands Answers
As the NSA budget continues to grow, citizens and civil society organizations are calling for greater transparency. They question why the NSA receives more than the entire agriculture sector, why security agencies operate with overlapping functions, and why audit mechanisms remain ignored.
With US$190 million spent over 17 years, Liberians are asking tough questions: How much is enough? And when will the people see accountability for funds meant to protect the nation? This is a million dollars question that needs to be answered by all Liberians.
