Liberia's historic US$1.2 billion draft national budget for Fiscal Year 2026--the first to cross the billion-dollar threshold--was submitted to the Legislature with promises of growth, stability, and transformation under the Boakai-led ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID). But according to former Finance Minister and current Gbarpolu County Senator Amara M. Konneh, the budget is politically symbolic but structurally contradictory.
In an extensive policy review, Senator Konneh applauded the milestone but delivered a sobering verdict:
"This milestone symbolizes fiscal expansion and growing confidence in public financial management... but the FY2026 budget reveals initial contradictions that threaten its credibility and developmental impact."
As per Konneh's analysis, the FY2026 is a historic budget with mismatched priorities. While the AAID outlines an ambitious US$1.68 billion investment need across critical sectors--including education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture--the budget allocates only US$594 million toward these priorities. That leaves a glaring US$1.08 billion gap.
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"The FY2026 budget should go beyond incremental increases and align strategically with AAID priorities," Konneh said. "We risk spending more but achieving less."
More than half of the AAID-sector spending--US$313 million--comes from development partners. For Konneh, that's troubling. "External financing now exceeds domestic commitment. We cannot afford to let donors drive our development priorities."
Despite the government's promises to invest in people, evidence suggests otherwise. Health Sector: US$101.7 million total. Only US$19.37 per person--far below global minimum thresholds, and deeply uneven across counties.
"Montserrado and Nimba receive over $6 per person, while Gbarpolu, Bomi, Sinoe, and Grand Bassa get less than $1.50. This deepens national inequalities," Konneh noted. Education Sector: US$132.9 million
Growth is 12%, but still below the overall budget's 18% surge.
Over 60% goes to the University of Liberia and payroll, leaving rural schools starved.
"Early childhood education gets US$20,000. Schools in many rural counties get less than US$100,000. This is not inclusive development," he said.
Social Development Services appears to be the only sector with negative growth.
"We saw disabled Liberians blocking traffic to demand help. This budget offers them nothing new," the Senator said, adding that he finds it strange that security spending outpaces education and health. Security institutions get US$151.8 million, a 38% jump in just two years.
"We're expanding enforcement faster than foundational services. Liberia does not need a 'bigger' security sector--but a smarter, more efficient one."
Konneh also highlighted the bloating of the payroll, and SOEs Underperform. Despite stable civil service staffing, payroll jumps US$13.4 million.
Meanwhile, SOEs such as LEC, NPA, and LWSC show little contribution to national revenue.
"We need accountability. A national budget that ignores SOE revenues is incomplete."
"A People-Centered Budget"
Despite the criticisms, Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan insists the draft budget is not just historic--but transformative.
"We have delivered a budget that reflects fiscal discipline, revenue growth, and national priorities. This budget puts people first."
He emphasized increases in Agriculture, road and infrastructure spending, and county development funds.
But critics say the numbers tell a different story. Montserrado Senator Abraham Darius Dillon agrees with Konneh.
"A billion-dollar budget means nothing if children sit on broken chairs in classrooms and hospitals lack medicine."
A member of the House of Representatives added, "We cannot celebrate numbers while the countryside collapses under neglect. AAID was meant to correct this imbalance."
A Civil society leader was even sharper. "This budget is Monrovia-centered, security-heavy, and socially shallow. It strengthens power; it does not broaden opportunity."
Where FY2026 Breaks From AAID
While the AAID Goal is to invest in people, the budget reality shows that security has bigger allotment than the health and education sectors combined; While the AAID Goal is to balance development across counties, budget reality shows that Montserrado County still wins big.
While the AAID Goal is to reduce donor dependence, budget reality shows that external funding still dominates, and while the AAID Goal is to ensure fiscal fairness and inclusion, budget reality shows that the disabled community and rural populations are still left behind.
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However, the FY2026 Aligns with the AAID in key areas. Agriculture receives increased investment, funds for key infrastructure projects, especially roads, some progress on decentralization of capital spending, and a stronger county development allocation.
The former Finance Minister didn't just criticize--he offered a roadmap--and despite the criticisms, he noted that the government still has time to align the budget with AAID pillars, commit more domestic funding to health & education, enforce SOE revenue contributions, and honor the 25% procurement law for Liberian businesses.
"Let's build wealth through Liberian entrepreneurs--the backbone of future growth," he said.
The FY2026 budget is both historic and controversial--a test of political will, not just fiscal power, and Konneh offered a final reminder, "It doesn't matter what side of the political spectrum you are on; every aspect of our future depends on getting this budget right."
It is worth noting that the coming weeks in the Legislature will determine whether Liberia's first billion-dollar budget becomes a national turning point, or another missed opportunity--masked in celebration.
