Ngafuan Encourages Liberians On J.J. Roberts’ 216th Birth Anniv.

Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has expressed optimism for the nation’s future despite the ongoing global economic challenges.
Speaking to current and former scholars of the JJ Roberts Educational Foundation, on the 216th Birth Anniversary, Ngafuan accentuated that the government of President Joseph Boakai is committed to achieving Liberia’s long-term development goal: transforming the country into a lower-middle-income nation within the next five years.
“As Minister of Finance, I remain hopeful for Liberia’s future. Despite today’s challenges, the government, under the leadership of President Boakai, is working diligently to achieve our overarching development goal: to elevate Liberia from its current state to a lower-middle-income country within the next five years,” he stated.
Expressing gratitude for being invited as the guest speaker, Ngafuan also took the opportunity to honor the legacy of Liberia’s first president, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, referring to him as a “venerable statesman and philanthropist.
“As a JJ Roberts’ scholar and a proud beneficiary of this remarkable foundation, I am thrilled to be here today.
This occasion feels like a homecoming and I take immense pride in being associated with the visionary ideals of President Roberts, which have been instrumental in shaping the future of Liberia’s children,” Minister Ngafuan shared.
The Minister also acknowledged the exceptional work of the JJ Roberts Educational Foundation, highlighting its pivotal role in providing hope and opportunities for education to many Liberian children.
“The Foundation’s efforts stand tall as a beacon of hope, inspiring every Liberian child who seeks education.
Through the JJ Roberts Scholarship, poverty has not been able to deny us the opportunity to learn,” he noted.
Minister Ngafuan acknowledged that while the road ahead may at times be difficult, the nation will ultimately succeed through perseverance and collective effort.
“While we are on this journey, the road will sometimes be bumpy, and the skies will sometimes be cloudy.
But just as turbulence does not stop skilled pilots from safely reaching their destination, we will certainly achieve our development goals,” Minister Ngafuan said.
He emphasized that realizing Liberia’s development goals in the next five years, despite significant challenges, will require the united effort of all public servants—from the highest officials to the lowest civil servants. Minister Ngafuan posed a thought-provoking question to those in public service:
“What did I do today to better my country? And what could I have done better?”
Ngafuan stressed that everyone in public service must recognize the privilege of serving the nation and never forget that someone among Liberia’s population of over five million people could potentially do the job better.
“It is a privilege to be called or elected to serve our country,” he said, urging all public servants to remain humble and dedicated to their responsibilities.
The Finance Minister further addressed the importance of humility, urging high-ranking officials to remember that they are not the “landlords” of the government institutions they lead but are, instead, merely tenants.
“The real landlords are the Liberian people,” he stated. “We should consider ourselves public servants, not public officials. As public servants, we must never be too offended by public criticism, no matter how unfair it may seem at times.
“Instead, we should be open-minded and willing to adjust our course in response to constructive feedback.”
The Liberian Finance Minister also outlined that achieving Liberia’s development goals will require everyone, whether in public or private service, to work with integrity.
“It is fair to expect those in public service to work hard, selflessly, and to actively combat corruption,” he said.
“However, hard work, selflessness, and integrity should not be viewed as qualities only needed in public service but should be embraced by everyone in society.”
Ngafuan warned that if Liberia normalizes laziness and corruption outside of government, it will become increasingly difficult to fight these vices once individuals enter government.
“Those who enter government come from the greater society, and if they are corrupt before taking office, there is a high likelihood they will carry these behaviors into their roles in government,” he noted.