Will Liberia Follow suit ?
This week President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana announced an immediate cancellation of fuel allowances and fuel allocations for all political appointees, as part of a sweeping effort to reduce government spending.
The directive, according to a statement from the Presidency Communications Office, is aimed at cutting costs and redirecting public funds into priority development areas.
This move follows earlier reductions in the size of government, including trimming the number of ministers and presidential staff. Additionally, satellite TV subscriptions for offices at the Presidency and other state institutions have also been cut.
On the contrary, the Government of Liberia is currently spending US$643,207,340 on Gasoline, Scratch Cards, Fuel and salaries payments and Cable subscriptions for public officials for the fiscal year 2025, out of a total national budget is 880,661,874 United States dollars, Recurrent expenditure, which includes expenses like salaries, goods and services, and debt servicing, is a significant portion of this budget. In the 2024 budget, US$594.54 million was allocated to recurrent expenditure, representing 95% of the total proposed expenditure. In the 2022 budget, the recurrent component was US$643,207,340
The major expenditure in the Liberian budget is typically for public administration, followed by debt servicing and infrastructure and basic needs. The specific allocation percentages can vary slightly from year to year, but these areas consistently receive significant funding.
For the Public Administration, A large portion of the budget is allocated to support the operations of government ministries, agencies, and other public institutions. This includes salaries for government employees, operational costs of various public entities, and other administrative expenses.
Debt Servicing, A significant amount of the budget is dedicated to servicing the country’s debt, both domestic and foreign. This includes payments on loans and other forms of debt obligations.
For Infrastructure and Basic Needs, the Liberian government allocates a substantial portion of the budget to infrastructure development, including roads, bridges, and other essential infrastructure projects. They also invest in basic needs such as water and sanitation. For Other Sectors, While the above three categories tend to be the largest, the budget also allocates funds to various other sectors, including education, health, agriculture, and security. However, the specific allocations can vary, and some sectors may receive more funding in certain years than others.
Earlier 2024, a controversy rocked the Liberian government following a leaked of documents pointing to extravagant salaries for officials at the Liberian Telecommunication regulatory commission amidst hardship and hunger ravaging Liberians.
The leaked documents revealed how members of the acting Board of Commissioners of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), allegedly allocated on to themselves extravagant salary payments, including gasoline for vehicles and generators.
A leaked payroll of the LTA revealed that each of the Commissioners receives a total of US$ 15,449 in salary and allowances per month. A breakdown of their monthly earnings reveals that each Commissioner collects a monthly salary and allowances of US$15,449, consisting of a basic salary, US$7,861, transportation, US$1,572, housing allowance, US$1,200, generator gas US$3,622, operational gas (200 gallons), US$966, and scratch cards, US$300.
Patrick Honnah, one of the Commissioners of LTA, who was once critical of public officials making over US$10,000 as salary during the regime of former ex-president George Weah, rebuffed the allegations, saying his monthly salary doesn’t amount to US$7,861. Honnah then challenged Martin K.N. Kollie, an exiled Liberian activist, who had posted on his Facebook handle claiming that
“LTA assigned a luxury vehicle to Honnah”, when he preached against senators for taking home a whopping salary despite hardship faced by Liberia. Kollie said: “
LTA assigned a luxurious car with you for transport and is providing you with US$1,000 gas. Why take US$1,572 again as transportation allowance when LTA staff don’t even have a bus? Patrick Honnah, this one is WRONG. This is not RESCUE (In relations to the Unity Party 2023 campaign message).
Honnah, has since challenged Kollie to prove his allegations against him, saying, “I will resign if this is true. I dare you to post the photo of the “assigned vehicle “. I also dare you to establish if I have ever had an “assigned vehicle “. This is an open challenge. This is so unfortunate of you.”
I will resign if this is true. I dare you to post the photo of the “assigned vehicle”. I also dare you to establish if I have ever had an “assigned vehicle”. This is an open challenge. This is so unfortunate of you.
Patrick Honnah, Commissioner, Liberia Telecommunications Authority
The LTA Communication Department, reacting to MEDIA inquiries said: “It’s bogus. Shame on whoever ‘leaked’ that breakdown. Tune in O.K. fm at 8:00 a.m. to hear Commissioner Massaquoi and at 9 on Truth to hear Honnah. What I do know for a fact and quote me is that the 8,000 USD figure they claimed to be the amount LTA bosses spent on food at DCalabash is a lie. We had a series of workshops, public consultations, and strategic meetings there since the new BoC arrived and the total amount spent was just over 4,000, a far cry from 8,000.
These meetings were day long sessions with sector stakeholders in some instances with different departments lasting from morning thru the evening. We have a staff of over 140. General meetings never happened in the last government, even departmental sessions were very fragmented and rare. This Acting Board has a new sense of urgency and our regulatory engagements have been very robust and productive.”
Liberians slam “outrageous” LTA Commissioners’ salary
Meanwhile, Liberians have raised concerns over the jumbo pay of the acting Board of Commissioners of the LTA amidst the hardship in the land.
For instance, Human Rights activist, Jesse Cole, argues that Liberia operates one of the world’s most expensive democracies without corresponding results.
According to him, “We cannot compare ourselves with any other nations in terms of the expenses incurred, whether annually or monthly. Public officials must reassess their earnings in line with the realities of the living standard of ordinary citizens.
“This situation needs urgent attention to prevent leaving future generations of Liberians in a dire financial mess”.
On his part, Charles McCauley of Kakata, said the leaked payroll of the acting Board of Commissioners of LTA reinforces the need to reduce the cost of governance.
He said it was “unfortunate” that those entrusted with managing the nation’s resources appear indifferent to the needs of the people they represent.
His words: “At a time when the majority of Liberians are suffering from multi-dimensional poverty and severe hunger, it is disheartening to learn that such vast amounts are being spent on just four or five Commissioners while thousands lack basic amenities like roads, electricity, and water.
“Something drastic must be done to address social inequality in this country, starting with a significant reduction in the funds allocated to the lavish lifestyles of our public officials”.
Emmanuel Varney, a civil servant in Gbarnga, said the money allocated for the acting Board of Commissioners of the LTA was “outrageous.”
“They are supposed not to earn up to that amount of money when people hardly survive,” he said.
A man selling wallets to drivers stuck in traffic on the gridlocked streets of the commercial Monrovia, who gave his name only as Abraham, said Liberia’s leaders were failing their people.
“Our leaders will not think about us. We are hustling not because we like it but we have to help ourselves,” he said.
