Africa-Press – Liberia. Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan
Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has come out swinging—breaking his silence and firmly stating that the decision to reallocate leftover COVID 19 pandemic stimulus package funds to the Home-Grown School Feeding Program was not his idea but one he inherited from his predecessor, Samuel D. Tweah.
Speaking during the Super Morning Show on the Liberia Broadcasting Station(LBS), Ngafuan said the growing speculation and criticisms—mostly from the former Finance and Development Planning Minister Tweah and its allies—that he had diverted public funds. “I inherited and confirmed it,” Ngafuan said, referring to the $234,000 leftover from the IMF-Supported COVID-19 Food Relief Fund.
“It was a good idea. I saw no reason to reverse it.”
According to Ngafuan, the decision to redirect the remaining COVID-19 Funds to school feeding came from the previous government.
He reminded the public that during the George Manneh Weah’s Administration, a national COVID-19 Steering Committee—Chaired by the then-Commerce and Industry Minister Professor Wilson Tarpeh and including former Finance and Development Minister Samuel Tweah—was set up to oversee the emergency response.
The committee received US$25 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide food assistance through the World Food Programme (WFP). After the main distribution exercise, the committee reportedly agreed that the unspent balance of around US$1.1 million would be redirected to a school feeding initiative under WFP.
“This was documented. The committee, which Tweah was part of, agreed to it,” Ngafuan said. “I reviewed the file when I assumed office and saw no reason to change it. The money was for food, and it would still go toward food—this time for children in schools.”
At a press conference in Monrovia last week, Tweah explained that the Government of Liberia (GoL), through the International Monetary Fund (IMF), secured US$25 million for the program in 2020. An additional US$5 million was provided by the World Bank through the Ministry of Agriculture under the STAR-P Project. According to Tweah, all funds were transferred directly to the World Food Programme (WFP) for implementation—bypassing any direct handling by government agencies.
“I was very happy with this arrangement,” Tweah said. “It meant no Liberian government institution could be accused of stealing the money. The WFP received and spent the funds. If there’s a problem, they should be the ones under investigation.”
He further stated that by July 2022, the WFP reported spending US$23.8 million of the total US$30 million, with a remaining balance of over US$2 million. He claimed that by the end of the CDC administration, the WFP had not returned the unspent funds to the Government of Liberia or the World Bank. He referenced a turnover note from the Department of Economic Management detailing the funds and pending reimbursements.
Tweah revealed that in March 2025, current Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan wrote to him requesting clarification regarding the reallocation of US$234,350—20% of the remaining COVID-19 funds—for the school feeding program.
Tweah said the reallocation was not approved under his tenure, despite earlier requests from the WFP. “I rejected the request when WFP asked in 2023. It’s ironic that the current minister approved it, yet there are rumors of my arrest. If I had approved it, they would have accused me of diverting WFP money for CDC elections,” Tweah added.
A letter obtained by FrontPage Africa from Aliou Diongue, then WFP Representative and Country Director, addressed to then-Minister Tweah, confirmed that US$2,029,300 in savings remained from the COHFSP—US$1,171,745 from the IMF-funded US$25 million, and US$857,555 from the World Bank-funded US$5 million.
According to Diongue, the COHFSP Steering Committee, in its final report, recommended reallocating these savings to support the National Homegrown School Feeding Program. The program would be coordinated by the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and implemented by the WFP.
“This homegrown school feeding program aims to procure approximately 1,300 metric tons of locally produced food—rice, gari, beans, and palm oil—each school year. The goal is to gradually increase this to 3,000 metric tons annually, sourced from smallholder farmers,” Diongue stated.
Ngafuan, clearly disturbed by what he described as “deliberate mischaracterizations” of his role, didn’t hold back. He said it was disingenuous for those who were part of the original COVID-19 Steering Committee—particularly Tweah—to now act surprised by the reallocation plan.
“Tweah was part of that committee. I inherited that decision. The WFP came to follow up with my predecessor, Boima Kamara. But that didn’t get consummated until he left. They came to follow up. When I reviewed the decision taken by Tweah and others, I said that was a good decision.”
“I would do what the CDC government proposed. And that’s what we did. It’s only becoming an issue because maybe it’s not good to be disingenuous. They try to create this atmosphere of thievery around my character. I confirmed the reallocation of the funds as proposed by him.’’
There’s a challenge. Let him come and say that he disagreed with the COVID Committee of which he was a member. Go and ask former Minister Wilson Tarpeh. Go and ask whether he disagreed with the decision. And there’s nothing on record at the Ministry of Finance that he wrote the WFP saying that was a bad decision, Ngafuan said”
Ngafuan also noted that the government’s portion—roughly $937,000—was officially remitted to the Central Bank on July 10, 2025. “As we speak, the money is sitting in the Consolidated Fund. Anyone can go verify it. How can someone with intentions to steal ask that the money be placed where the Auditor General has oversight?” he asked.
Ngafuan used the moment to remind the public that the Home-Grown School Feeding Program is not a random initiative. It is a longstanding policy supported by partners such as USAID and the Ministry of Education.
“In fact, USAID’s own school feeding program was cancelled, leaving a gap in for kids that government was desperate to fill. “USAID ran a school feeding program. The Ministry of Education and others are hounding us for opportunities to put back money in the school feeding program. So, the money has come, and we will redirect the money back in the program to benefit our kids”
He added that the government plans to channel the funds into feeding Liberian school children using locally produced rice—stimulating both nutrition and the domestic agriculture economy.
But the government’s portion is at the central bank. It was remitted July 10th, 2025. A day or two before Tweah’ press conference. So, the WFP was not sending that money because of his press conference. So, the money is there and we are working with Agriculture. We ensure that all the systems and structures are put in place. All the government procedures are met so that the money will be spent.”
Despite the accusations and political mudslinging, Ngafuan says his focus remains on national priorities: job creation, economic expansion, and transparency. “I’m not here for political side battles. I have a Premier League focus—no one will pull me down to third division games,” he declared.
He called on the WFP to step forward and clarify its role and communications on the fund to put public speculation to rest. “And that was a good decision, taken by the CDC government, for me to backpedal and create a sense, a cloud of curiosity around it. The WFP can give you the details. I think they should. I think they are listening. They should come and provide clarity,” he said.
However, the government’s portion is at the central bank. It was remitted July 10th, 2025. A day or two before Tweah’ press conference. So, the WFP was not sending that money because of his press conference. So, the money is there. So, we are working with Agriculture. We ensure that all the systems and structures are put in place. All the government procedures are met so that the money will be spent.
“I didn’t come to the Ministry of Finance with this sense of being, I did not come with a party perspective. I came with a national perspective. So, I wouldn’t look at a file, something that is done by the CDC government that was appropriate and take a different position, “he said.
Ngafuan issued a warning to what he called “lackeys and surrogates” attempting to drag his name through the mud. “You do not know that game better than me,” he said, signaling a readiness to defend his integrity in the public arena.
For More News And Analysis About Liberia Follow Africa-Press
