Ngafuan regrets Liberia’s MCC Compact pause

The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Ngafuan, expresses frustration over abrupt pause of the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation, amid Liberia’s qualification for MCC Compact. 

By Lincoln G. Peters

Margibi, Liberia, May 13, 2025 – Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan expresses serious disdain and frustration in the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) immediate pause here, amid Liberia’s eligibility, while noting that it’s clear that the country may no longer hope and relay on the MCC as a priority. 

Speaking on a midnight talk show, The Heat recently, Minister Ngafuan disclosed that when news about Liberia’s eligibility for the MCC was announced, it came positively and was largely greeted across, because it means faster development, especially in infrastructure, energy, among others. 

He recalled that in January 2024, the MCC team visited Liberia and gave the country authorization through the Ministry of Finance to recruit coordinator, senior economist, private sector specialist and gender specialist for the program, totaling five vacancies, with hundred Liberians applying for these positions.

“Well, we don’t have control over the American government and its democracy, as to what happened there. We have a new government in America. It’s possible that the MCC may not be a priority at this stage. We can’t continue to hope on the MCC. So, where we are now, unfortunately, everything that we started, we have to pause it. We will get over this, and we are getting over it”, he said. 

On December 19, 2024, The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC’s) Board of Directors selected Liberia as newly eligible to develop a compact during its quarterly meeting on December 18. 

Liberia was selected in recognition of progress the country has made to strengthen its performance on the MCC scorecard and commitment to pursuing critical economic and democratic governance reforms. The Board also discussed new opportunities that the Millennium Challenge Corporation Candidate Country Reform Act, provides for MCC.

“MCC is proud of our longstanding history with Liberia and is enthusiastic about embarking on a new partnership to advance opportunities for the people of Liberia,” said MCC’s Chief Executive Officer Alice Albright.

Outlining domestic fiscal management and resources policy mobilization measures taken to address the gape, Minister Ngafuan said government is currently attracting resources from other partners and raising domestic resources mobilization.

He disclosed that despite the MCC Compact pause, Liberia too is trying to implement the Liberia First Policy, therefore, they are now focusing on key issues that will protect the nation’s sovereignty and raise domestic revenue to address gaps and financial linkages. 

“Now, last year, the country budget was in the amount of US$738 million. The domestic resources obligation we had was approximately US$690 million. The Liberia Revenue Authority and other revenue generation institutions raised US$698 million, which is eight hundred dollars more than targeted. Also, last year, domestic revenue was the highest ever in the country’s history”, he disclosed. 

He indicated that they are now focusing efforts to expanding domestic resources and revenue for the country, and this will be fully implemented through the technology advancement that the LRA is about to introduce. 

“The LRA is about to introduce a technology program known as the payment switch, which will be installed at businesses so that receipts are generated. We are also thinking of changing case and plucking linkages. There will be more audits. Technology will be leverage; the net effect is that we are going to raise more money for ourselves, and it will help us. We are also in concession negotiations to attract the best value for Liberia”, he added. Editing by Jonathan Browne