The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has defended the government’s decision to repay an $83 million debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), describing it as a mandatory requirement inherited from the previous administration.
Deputy Minister for Administration, Bill McGill Jones, speaking on Radio Gbarnga over the weekend, emphasized that the Boakai administration had no alternative but to comply with the terms of the IMF program.
“This year’s national budget included a clear mandate under the IMF program requiring Liberia to pay back the $83 million,” Minister Jones said. “This meant redirecting $16 million that could have supported education and civil servant salary adjustments toward debt servicing at the Central Bank of Liberia.”
Despite the financial strain, Minister Jones said the government managed to allocate an additional $16 million to increase salaries for approximately 28,000 civil servants across multiple government sectors, reversing years of low pay under the harmonization program.
The Deputy Minister also highlighted a landmark initiative for police officers. For the first time since 2015, the government has taken responsibility for their insurance premiums, previously paid out-of-pocket. “We allocated $1.2 million in this year’s budget to ensure that no police officer pays for insurance from their salary again,” he explained.
Minister Jones, who also serves on the board of the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), shared updates on efforts to revitalize the institute. “Our role on the board is to ensure that CARI returns as a hub that drives Liberia’s agricultural value chain and provides real-time data for decision-making,” he said.
During the program, several callers commended the contributions of Bong County residents in national government positions, noting improvements in health, infrastructure, and education. Minister Jones attributed these gains to the unity and coordinated efforts of Bong officials.
“Bong County is now on the national map because we have people across different sectors advocating for our county’s development,” he said. “We are not waiting for 2029 to engage our people; we’re already doing it every month.”
He further revealed that Bong County officials have voluntarily raised over US$2 million through monthly contributions to support local development and educational initiatives across the county.
Addressing ongoing teachers’ protests, Minister Jones encouraged dialogue over confrontation. He assured educators that the government, through the Ministries of Finance and Education, is committed to addressing their concerns. “The best way forward is through dialogue. We are open to finding a solution,” he stated.
In closing, Minister Jones praised the patience and trust of Bong County residents, emphasizing that the Finance Ministry remains committed to fiscal responsibility and transparent development.
“When you pay your child’s school fees, you don’t make noise about it—it’s your duty,” he said. “In the same way, we at the Finance Ministry see debt repayment and salary support as our responsibility to the people of Liberia.”