Liberia: Senator Calls for Separating Development Planning From Finance Ministry

5 July 2024
The Liberian Investigator (Monrovia)

Monrovia — Grand Kru County Senator Numene T. H. Bartekwa has called for the separation of the Development and Planning aspect from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to better drive the country's developmental agenda.

By Blamo N. Toe, with The Liberian Investigator

Senator Bartekwa revealed that local authorities in various counties have been advised to conduct their own planning, despite the current structure of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP).

He noted that when the Ministry of Development and Planning existed separately, each of Liberia's 15 counties had Planning Officers to oversee development activities. These officers worked with local administrations to create and implement development plans in coordination with the central government.

"I believe we need to revisit that law. These two ministries should be separated. Let the Ministry of Planning handle planning fully, and the Ministry of Finance focus solely on financial matters," Senator Bartekwa asserted.

He pointed out that the MFDP's primary strength has been in preparing the national budget and disbursing funds. However, he emphasized that the Deputy Minister for Planning at MFDP faces an overwhelming task that leads to inefficiency in addressing the country's planning needs.

Senator Bartekwa argued that separating the Development and Planning functions from the MFDP would enhance the country's developmental agenda by allowing the Ministry of Finance to concentrate on financial disbursements.

He made this intervention during the 32nd Day Regular Sitting of the 1st Session of the Liberian Senate on Thursday, July 4, 2024, following a report from the Joint Committee on Public Works and Rural Development, Lands, Mines, Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment and Public Corporation on flooding in Monrovia and other parts of Liberia.

The MFDP was created in 2013 by an Act of the National Legislature to align with international financial management best practices. It replaced the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs, combining public finance, development planning, and economic management to manage the country's economy effectively.

Despite the MFDP's comprehensive mandate, some national leaders, politicians, civil society actors, and activists believe that the Development and Planning segment has not been as effective since the merger.

Read the original article on Liberian Investigator.

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