“Increased energy access will enhance economic expansion in Liberia”, Finance Minister Ngafuan

Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has expressed the need for energy accessibility across the country.
He disclosed this on Thursday, October 17, when he appeared on the National Broadcaster (ELBC), to provide key updates on the status of the Liberian economy.
Finance Minister Ngafuan told the public that the ongoing 20-megawatt solar energy plant being constructed at the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant will enhance energy accessibility for many, especially companies who are in dire need of electricity.
He explained that the issue of electricity needs to be addressed, adding “It’s already tough, but we are working on that, and some of the problems will take time to be solved.”
Minister Ngafuan said, “When we increase energy access, the economy will expand.”
Liberia is facing a huge energy crisis with citizens and businesses experiencing power outages mostly during the “dry season.”
Currently, the Mt. Coffee hydropower plant produces over 88 megawatts of power to Monrovia, an output that is inadequate to meet the growing demands of the public.
Regarding the economy, the Liberian Finance minister reveals that the country is on a growth trajectory of over 5.1 percent, with the mining and agriculture sectors the areas of concentration.
He said the mining sector should be commensurate with the sector’s potential so that the government should get what it’s ideally entitled to.
He noted that the government is working tirelessly to open the country because it is important for the country’s GDP growth to translate into revenue growth.
“Our grand goal is to increase the size of the “cake”, (revenue), and we are taking actions to expand the cake.
Moreover, Minister Ngafuan added that the so-called “harmonization” instituted by the previous government, and approved by the National Legislature didn’t meet its ambition, because even with the “harmonization”, there was victimization.
According to the country’s fiscal chief, “what people have in the pocket when the month ends shouldn’t reduce, it should increase, instead.” The government, he says is working also in ensuring that there is a positive impact on disposable income for those in the civil service.