MARSHALL, Margibi County – The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has commenced a high-level departmental retreat in Marshall, bringing together senior managers and technical staff of its Department of Fiscal Affairs to strengthen Liberia’s fiscal systems in support of inclusive development.
The retreat, which opened Friday centers on the theme “Strengthening Fiscal Systems to Support Inclusive Development.” The gathering is aimed at reviewing internal systems, addressing long-standing operational gaps, and aligning departmental strategies with the government’s decentralization and development agenda.
Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs, Anthony G. Myers, emphasized that effective management is not limited to senior officials but is the responsibility of every staff member within the Ministry.
“Most people think management is only for ministers and directors,” Hon. Myers said. “But whether you are a desk officer or a senior official, you are part of the system. Management affects you, and you affect management.”
He outlined what he described as the five critical elements of functional management, beginning with planning. According to Minister Myers, planning sets the long-term strategic direction of the Department and ensures that all activities, decisions, and actions align with clearly defined goals.
“When we talk about strategy, we are talking about long-term direction,” he noted. “Every action we take must move us toward that goal. If we say we are strengthening the fiscal system, then our activities must reflect that.”
Addressing persistent discrepancies between reported revenues and consolidated accounts, Hon. Myers called for stronger collaboration between fiscal authorities and revenue-generating institutions. He stressed that closing reporting gaps is central to improving transparency and accountability.
“The time has come for us to abandon the notion that certain issues belong to one institution alone,” he said. “As fiscal authorities responsible for revenue and expenditure policy, we must work collectively to remove the perennial gaps in our system.”
The Deputy Minister further underscored the importance of organizing structures and mobilizing adequate resources, including infrastructure, equipment, and staffing, to support fiscal decentralization. He revealed that plans are underway for the construction and renovation of county treasury facilities to enhance local financial management capacity.
Inclusive development, he explained, requires active citizen participation at all levels from decision-making to implementation. “Nothing for us without us,” Hon. Myers said, echoing the principle that communities must be directly involved in managing resources allocated for their development.
Giving the overview of the retreat, the Director of the Financial Decentralization Unit, Dr. Romeo D. N. Gbartea, highlighted the value of experience, discipline, and institutional knowledge in strengthening public financial management.
Dr. Gbartea emphasized that humility is the conduit for productivity.
He illustrated how Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan believes in productivity that’s why he spent nights with the staff. Dr.Gbartea acknowledged Hon. Myers for leadership in the Department of Fiscal Affairs. .
Throughout the two-day retreat, participants are expected to assess the Department’s current structure, staffing composition, and operational processes.
Discussions are focusing on identifying weaknesses, recommending reforms, and proposing actionable steps to enhance fiscal oversight, improve coordination, and strengthen accountability mechanisms at both national and county levels.
The retreat forms part of the Ministry’s broader effort to build a resilient, transparent, and responsive fiscal system capable of supporting Liberia’s decentralization policy and long-term development agenda.
