MONROVIA — Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan told the Liberian Senate Thursday that urgent national security and economic matters prevented him from appearing earlier before the chamber, leading to his citation for contempt.
Speaking during a Senate hearing, Ngafuan said it was never his intention to disregard or disrespect the authority of the legislature.
“We consider the Senate, or the legislature in general, as critical to the success of the ministry and the achievement of the goals that we have set as a government,” Ngafuan told senators. “I will not willfully decide not to honor the invitation of the honorable Liberian Senate.”
The finance minister explained that he was engaged in several urgent national matters at the time he was expected to appear before the Senate.
According to Ngafuan, these included ongoing meetings of the National Security Council related to developments at Liberia’s border, as well as cabinet deliberations on the government’s development agenda.
“We are in difficult moments with a situation evolving in the Middle East that has some reverberations on us,” he said, noting that the government’s economic management team was closely monitoring the potential impact on Liberia.
Ngafuan also said that the evolving border situation required immediate attention from senior government officials.
“While we were meeting, the situation on the border got a little bit more exigent, and the cabinet had to huddle in making some quick decisions,” he explained.
In addition to security concerns, the minister said he was involved in urgent financial negotiations aimed at preventing a potential fuel shortage in the country.
“We had to conclude some initiatives with the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company to ensure that we don’t run out of critically needed fuel,” Ngafuan said.
The finance minister further disclosed that the government had been addressing payment issues affecting public servants due to difficulties involving a commercial bank responsible for processing certain government payments.
According to Ngafuan, funds had already been remitted, but the bank encountered challenges in disbursing payments.
“Monies were remitted almost two weeks ago, but there is a bank that is facing some challenges in paying government workers,” he said.
Ngafuan told senators that while he had planned to attend the hearing, the rapidly evolving developments required his presence in government meetings.
He also said that a deputy minister had been sent ahead to inform lawmakers that he was on his way.
However, by the time he attempted to proceed to the Capitol Building, he was informed that the Senate session had already adjourned.
“There was no intention to disregard or disrespect the honorable body,” Ngafuan emphasized.
The finance minister expressed regret for missing the earlier session and apologized to the Senate.
“I regret because I really wanted to be here to explain the situation so that we can always get a common understanding and find a solution,” he said.
Several senators acknowledged the explanation and noted that the Finance Ministry has generally maintained a cooperative relationship with the legislature.
Members of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means and Finance said Ngafuan and his team have often appeared before the committee to address budgetary and fiscal matters.
Lawmakers eventually signaled their willingness to move beyond the contempt issue and focus on the underlying matter that prompted the hearing — concerns over the status of volunteer teachers and health workers awaiting placement on government payroll.
The Senate is expected to hold additional discussions with relevant ministries to determine how the issue can be resolved.
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