General News, Press Release

–𝑨𝒔 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒖𝒅𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

President Joseph N. Boakai, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has submitted to the Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature, the 2024 Draft Recast Budget.

Submitting the Recast Budget Friday, 16 August, Acting Finance Minister Anthony Myers said the budget is based on their observation of the performance in the first six months of the year and a need to rebalance the budget in response to revenue performance and the Government desire to protect critical expenditure that is of priority for the Country.

In a letter from H.E President Joseph N. Boakai Sr, to the Honorable Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, it says the proposed resource envelope for the FY2024 recast budget is projected at 738.8 million comprising of a risk-adjusted portfolio of US$721.5 million plus US$17.3 to be raised through the following revenue mobilization measures: increment in GST on a selected set of goods and services that have little or no significant social impacts, increase in non-concessional mineral royalties, an executive order for surcharge on imports that compete with domestic manufacturing outputs and sale of debt instruments.

The President’s communication further that the proposed expenditure for FY2024 recast budget is shared between US$672.3 million or 91 percent for recurrent expenditure and US$66.6 million or 9 percent for Public Sector Investment Plan (PSIP). Among the key recurrent expenditures are debt services to commercial banks arising from constructure projects and interests on debt instruments, and to multilateral institutions in order to unlock opportunities for financing medium-term development priorities. Other recurrent expenditures are compensation of employees, operational goods and services for Government entities and subsides, grants and transfers to governmental and non-governmental institutions in the Health, education and social service sectors.

Receiving the Draft Recast Budget on behalf of the 55th Legislature, Speaker Koffa urged the Ministry of Finance Development Planning to submit all supporting documents for the Recast Budget to aid the Ways, Means and Finance Committee during its scrutiny.

The Honorable Speaker, in order to improve the budget process, has announced additional measures aimed at investigating allegation of budget alteration and has since named a special investigative committee chaired by Bong County Electoral District 4 Representative Robert F.  Womba and co-Chair by Montserrado County Electoral District 7 Representative Emmanuel Dahn. The members include; Hon. Thomas Romeo Quioh, Hon. Sekou Kanneh, and Hon. Sumo Mulbah.

Speaker Koffa said the Legislature remains committed in the fight against corruption and will promote to the high standards transparency and accountability in Government.

The 2024 Budget was approved by the 55th Legislature in April to the tune of US$738,859,827, an increase of 6.7 percent from the version submitted by the Executive through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, which was US$692 million.

General News, Press Release

The newly United States Ambassador to Liberia, Mark Toner, paid a courtesy call on Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa of the 55^th Legislature of the Republic of Liberia on Thursday, 8 August, at his Capitol Building office on Capitol Hill, Monrovia.

Ambassador Toner’s courtesy call was made after he presented his Letter of Credence to President Joseph N. Boakai on Wednesday, 7 August, during a brief presentation ceremony held at the Executive Mansion.

Ambassador Toner, a seasoned diplomat and career member of the Senior Foreign Service, arrived in Monrovia on Friday, August 2, 2024, to assume his role as the new U.S. Ambassador to Liberia.

Bringing with him a wealth of experience from various high-profile positions within the U.S. Department of State, many observers believe that Toner’s appointment is set to further strengthen U.S.-Liberia relations.

Most recently, He served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Global Public Affairs, where he played a key role in shaping the communication strategies of U.S. foreign policy.

Prior to this, he held the position of Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France, where he enhanced U.S. cultural and public diplomacy efforts in one of America’s principal allied nations.

In Washington, D.C., Ambassador Toner was the Senior Advisor for the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. He has also served as the State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson and Acting Spokesperson under three successive Secretaries of State, as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.

His extensive portfolio also includes his role as Spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to NATO and as Senior Watch Officer in the State Department’s Emergency Operations Center. As a Pearson Fellow, he worked on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, gaining invaluable legislative experience.

The new U. S. Ambassador has a special connection to Liberia, having spent three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the country, specifically in Grand Bassa County, early in his career. This unique experience provides him with a deep understanding of Liberia’s culture and challenges, which will be invaluable in his new role.

General News, Press Release

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

OFFICE OF THE AMBASSADOR

Monrovia, Liberia

July 24, 2024

Dear Speaker Koffa,

Thank you for meeting with Heather Flynn during her visit to Liberia on behalf of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Your leadership as Speaker of the House is commendable. We greatly appreciated your insights into the legislative landscape and the challenges and opportunities for policy reform in Liberia.

Your dedication to fostering legislative effectiveness and ensuring good governance is truly admirable. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and supporting your important work.

Sincerely,

Catherine Rodrigues

Charge d’Affaires, a.i

General News, Press Release

Capitol Building – Grand Kru County District #2 Representative, Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa has agreed to fund the construction of a Yourh Center in Parluken, Forpoh Statutory District.

The cost of the Youth Center is L$1.1m.

The Speaker’s approval to fund the Parluken Youth Center followed a meeting with the leadership of the Parkuken Youth Development led by President, Mr, Congress Wleh on Monday on Capitol Hill.

Accordingly, the Youth Center will contain two offices, two bathrooms (male and female) and a large space for meeting for the used of youthful activities in Forpoh District, Grand Kru County.

The project is expected to begin in September.


Notably, between 2011 to 2023, the Speaker has constructed six schools, 26 handpumps, four youth centers and has contributed immensely to the renovations of churches, mosques, health centers, schools, youth centers (town halls) amongst others.