MONROVIA – Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, and Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso Miley Jallah, have called on women at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) to move beyond symbolic representation and assert decisive influence in national development.
The call was made Wednesday, February 18, at the official launch of the MFDP Professional Women Interactive Forum, held under the theme “Women Unite, Inspire Change.”
Jallah: “Influence Determines Outcome”
Delivering the keynote address, Education Minister Dr. Jallah framed women’s empowerment not as rhetoric, but as institutional responsibility.
“When we gather under the theme ‘Women Unite, Inspire Change,’ we are not speaking about advancement in the abstract,” she said. “We are speaking about how influence operates inside institutions that determine national direction.”
She emphasized that fiscal decisions taken at MFDP directly shape classrooms, clinics, and communities across Liberia.
“A delay in release affects classrooms. A reprioritization affects clinics. An execution gap affects communities. These are not abstract consequences—they are lived realities.”
Dr. Jallah warned that inequality often persists quietly through procedural processes, especially when women are present in institutions but lack real influence.
“Presence and influence are not always aligned—and that distinction matters,” she noted. “If women are not fully equipped to shape conversations at the level of macro-fiscal modeling, procurement oversight, and expenditure analysis, then priorities that affect women and families may quietly lose ground.”
She urged women to deepen technical authority, build cross-department alliances, and deliberately mentor younger colleagues.
“Institutions respond to expertise,” she stressed. “And institutions evolve when expertise is broadened.”
In one of her strongest declarations, Dr. Jallah concluded:
“Every budget line reflects a value. Every allocation reflects a choice. Every choice shapes someone’s future. Ensure that women are shaping those choices fully, competently, confidently.”
Ngafuan: “You Are the Allocators of National Destiny”
Launching the forum, Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan described the initiative as a permanent fixture and a capacity-building platform—not a social club.
“This will be a permanent fixture,” Ngafuan declared. “Because this is not just a social club, but a vision. This is a capacity-building initiative.”
He reminded the women that the Ministry of Finance sits at the heart of government operations.
“We are the allocators of resources. Sometimes we determine whether other ministries succeed or fail,” he said. “If we don’t pump the blood to certain parts of the body, those parts can become paralyzed.”
He urged women to approach their work not only as professionals but as mothers and nation-builders.
“Be professionals, yes—but be human beings first. Feel the motherly urgency when salaries are delayed at the Ministry of Education. Feel it when the Ministry of Health lacks resources.”
Ngafuan emphasized teamwork and accountability, warning against a narrow “I did my part” mindset.
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“In this Ministry, you have not done your job until the job is done. You may have run your part of the relay, but if the team fails, we all fail.”
The Minister also reflected on the influence of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, whom he described as a model of resilience and discipline.
“In your perfect imperfection, you can still do better for yourself and for the country,” he said.
He further urged women to reject envy and competition.
“Rejoice when others succeed. The God of blessings loves that spirit.”
Ngafuan officially declared the Professional Women Interactive Forum launched, pledging full senior management support.
“Women of this Ministry, you are critical to the delivery of this institution. And the senior management will support this initiative.”
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