-Declares ‘Liberia Is Moving Forward’ at Launch of National Cadet Program
GBARNGA, Bong County – Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan on Friday, May 15, delivered a forceful defense of the Boakai administration’s development agenda, insisting that Liberia is making measurable national progress despite criticism from detractors who claim the country is moving backward.
Speaking as Chief Launcher at the official launch of the National Cadet Program organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Gbarnga, Ngafuan mixed personal reflections, economic data, political messaging, and motivational advice while unveiling what government officials describe as one of Liberia’s largest youth professional development initiatives in recent years.
The National Cadet Program will place more than 1,000 university graduates and graduating seniors into government and private sector institutions over a six-month period to acquire practical workplace experience and improve employment opportunities.
Ngafuan Defends Boakai Government’s Record
In one of the most politically charged portions of his address, Ngafuan strongly rejected opposition claims that Liberia is deteriorating under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s leadership.
“Today, through this National Cadet Program, we are about to give hope to more than 1,000 young people of Liberia; yet, our detractors will say Liberia is going backward,” Ngafuan declared.
The Finance Minister then launched into an extensive defense of the administration’s achievements in infrastructure, education, energy, civil service reform, revenue generation, and international diplomacy.
“We are paving the road to the South-East including to Zwedru, Fish Town, and Harper. We are rehabilitating and paving the road from Free Port to St. Paul Bridge and then to Bo Waterside,” he stated.
“Today, we are connecting more households to electricity and business and other activities are extending into the night hours in Monrovia, the RIA Highway, Buchanan, and many other cities. Yet, the detractors say Liberia is going backward,” he added.
‘We Grew the Budget from US$738M to US$1.3 Billion’
Ngafuan also highlighted what he described as major fiscal gains achieved by the Boakai administration within just over two years in office.
“Today, we have succeeded in just 2 years, 3 months, and 24 days in growing the budget from US$738 million to US$1.3 billion,” the minister disclosed.
According to him, the increase was largely driven by improved domestic revenue mobilization, stronger tax administration, and efforts to close leakages in public revenue collection.
In a pointed comparison with previous fiscal years, Ngafuan said Liberia is now discussing a supplementary budget because of revenue surpluses rather than recast budgets caused by revenue shortfalls.
“Unlike in the past where the country got accustomed to the submission of a recast budget that essentially slashed appropriations of spending entities due to shortfalls in revenue collection, we are now talking about a supplementary budget that adds up to the appropriation of spending entities due to surplus revenue collection,” he asserted.
The minister said the surplus revenue is helping government recruit additional personnel into the military, police, and immigration service while also placing volunteer health workers, education workers, and chiefs onto government payroll.
‘Liberia Is Going Forward, Not Backward’
Ngafuan used vivid imagery to argue that while Liberia’s development journey remains incomplete, the country has undeniably made progress.
“The interconvertible fact is that by and large, Liberia is going forward, not backward,” he declared.
“Yes, on our development journey from Redlight to Gbarnga, we concede that we have not reached Gbarnga yet. In two years, three months, and twenty-four days, we may now be not too far from Totota,” he said to applause.
“But they are dead wrong to say that on the journey from Redlight to Gbarnga, we are still at Redlight. No, we are not!” Ngafuan stressed forcefully.
In another powerful line, the minister declared:
“Today is better than yesterday. And tomorrow will be better than today; and the day after tomorrow will be better than tomorrow.”
National Cadet Program Targets Youth Empowerment
Beyond politics, the Finance Minister emphasized that the National Cadet Program forms part of the Boakai administration’s broader youth empowerment and human capital development strategy.
He described the initiative as a major opportunity for young Liberians to bridge the difficult transition between university education and professional employment.
Ngafuan reflected emotionally on his own experience as an intern at the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company in 1988 while attending Booker Washington Institute.
“That internship made me a stronger, smarter, and more practical person,” he recalled.
The minister said the new cadet initiative aims to replicate such opportunities for a new generation of Liberians.
“This is government practicing what it preaches: creating entry points for young professionals to gain practical experience, demonstrate competence, and transition into meaningful employment,” he stated.
Government Expanding Youth Programs
Ngafuan also highlighted several other youth-focused initiatives underway under the Boakai administration.
He pointed to the recently launched US$18 million Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank, which aims to support approximately 30,000 youth-led businesses and generate over 100,000 jobs nationwide.
He further praised Liberia’s successful effort to secure the relocation of the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Center headquarters from Burkina Faso to Liberia.
According to him, the government has already fully funded the acquisition, rehabilitation, and furnishing of a new facility in Monrovia for the institution.
Advice to Young Cadets
Toward the conclusion of his address, Ngafuan delivered a lengthy motivational message to the cadets, urging them to approach professional life with humility, discipline, integrity, and patriotism.
“Where you find darkness, spread your light; where you find laziness, spread your strength; where you find hopelessness, share hope,” he advised.
He also cautioned young professionals against arrogance and unrealistic expectations as they transition from classrooms into the workforce.
“Being an honor-roll student in university does not automatically transform someone into an honor-roll professional in the workplace,” Ngafuan warned.
The Finance Minister concluded by officially launching the National Cadet Program and expressing hope that it would produce “the professionals Liberia needs and the leaders Liberia deserves.”
Read Finance Minister Ngafuan’s full speech below:
Follow The Liberian Post on Facebook and X (formerly twitter)
