Boakai’s Gov’t Makes Media Debt Settlement Key Priority
— As Finance Minister Reassures Settlement before End of 2025
IPNEWS: The Boakai administration views a free and vibrant press as crucial for democracy and accountability and has made the debt settlement part of a broader strategy to address domestic debt and restore fiscal discipline.
The government has uncovered over $400 million in fraudulent debt claims through the GAC vetting process, highlighting the need for careful review of all claims.
At the moment, the Boakai government has begun paying and is committed to settling all legitimate outstanding domestic debts owed to media institutions in Liberia with an ongoing process to vet and clear all claims.
The government, through the Minister of Finance and Development Planning Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has reaffirmed its pledge to clear both current and outstanding arrears, emphasizing that it will not “suffocate” the media by failing to pay its bills.
Payments have commenced for claims that have been duly vetted and validated by the General Auditing Commission (GAC).
The government is prioritizing current debts while systematically addressing significant arrears from previous administrations. The Finance Ministry’s communications unit has been tasked with coordinating with media entities to ensure timely disbursement of all outstanding payments.
The Boakai’s administration says it aims to restore confidence among local service providers and ensure media organizations, which operate as businesses, can sustain their operations.
Media organizations in Liberia have historically protested the government’s refusal to settle large, outstanding advertising debts, leading to recent commitments by the current government to pay the arrears.
It may be recalled, in August 2024, the Publishers Association of Liberia (PAL) threatened a media blackout and the withdrawal of reporters from government functions if the debts remained unsettled.
Current Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Ngafuan, announced in October and November 2025 that the government has started paying portions of the outstanding debts to media entities.
Ngafuan stated that nearly US$176,000 has been disbursed to media entities for services that were verified by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) as legitimately rendered.
Minister Ngafuan stated that while prioritizing current debts, the government has a clear, systematic plan to address significant arrears from previous years to ensure no media entity is left unpaid.
The media’s actions, including previous threats of blackouts and walkouts from press events, underscore the severe financial strain that government delinquency imposes on independent media outlets, which rely on timely payments to cover operational costs like salaries and production supplies.
The government has acknowledged that the failure to pay these bills can “suffocate” the media and has committed to restoring confidence and ensuring a vibrant press. — As Finance Minister Reassures Settlement before End of 2025
IPNEWS: The Boakai administration views a free and vibrant press as crucial for democracy and accountability and has made the debt settlement part of a broader strategy to address domestic debt and restore fiscal discipline.
The government has uncovered over $400 million in fraudulent debt claims through the GAC vetting process, highlighting the need for careful review of all claims.
At the moment, the Boakai government has begun paying and is committed to settling all legitimate outstanding domestic debts owed to media institutions in Liberia with an ongoing process to vet and clear all claims.
The government, through the Minister of Finance and Development Planning Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has reaffirmed its pledge to clear both current and outstanding arrears, emphasizing that it will not “suffocate” the media by failing to pay its bills.
Payments have commenced for claims that have been duly vetted and validated by the General Auditing Commission (GAC).
The government is prioritizing current debts while systematically addressing significant arrears from previous administrations. The Finance Ministry’s communications unit has been tasked with coordinating with media entities to ensure timely disbursement of all outstanding payments.
The Boakai’s administration says it aims to restore confidence among local service providers and ensure media organizations, which operate as businesses, can sustain their operations.
Media organizations in Liberia have historically protested the government’s refusal to settle large, outstanding advertising debts, leading to recent commitments by the current government to pay the arrears.
It may be recalled, in August 2024, the Publishers Association of Liberia (PAL) threatened a media blackout and the withdrawal of reporters from government functions if the debts remained unsettled.
Current Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Ngafuan, announced in October and November 2025 that the government has started paying portions of the outstanding debts to media entities.
Ngafuan stated that nearly US$176,000 has been disbursed to media entities for services that were verified by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) as legitimately rendered.
Minister Ngafuan stated that while prioritizing current debts, the government has a clear, systematic plan to address significant arrears from previous years to ensure no media entity is left unpaid.
The media’s actions, including previous threats of blackouts and walkouts from press events, underscore the severe financial strain that government delinquency imposes on independent media outlets, which rely on timely payments to cover operational costs like salaries and production supplies.
The government has acknowledged that the failure to pay these bills can “suffocate” the media and has committed to restoring confidence and ensuring a vibrant press.
