Diaspora Alert has obtained a classified letter written by Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan addressed to the World Food Programme (WFP), in which he requests without Legislative approval the release of the remaining COVID-19 response funds totaling USD 1,171,745.41 currently held by the WFP.
The COVID-19 stimulus package, also referred to as Liberia’s COVID-19 response funds, was initially allocated at $30 million to support vulnerable populations adversely affected by the pandemic. A substantial portion of these funds was utilized for food distribution nationwide, benefiting approximately 2.3 million individuals. The COVID-19 Household Food Support Program (COHFSP) was financed through a $25 million loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a $5 million grant from the World Bank. The WFP managed these funds, expending $23.838 million, which left a balance of $1.171 million to be returned to the government and $857,555 to be reimbursed to the World Bank.
It is concerning that, without the necessary legislative approval mandated by law, Minister Ngafuan, on February 14, 2025, wrote to WFP Representative in Liberia, Madam Mary Njoroge, requesting the reallocation of the remaining COVID-19 response funds. In his correspondence, Minister Ngafuan inaccurately asserted that the Government of Liberia had decided to allocate 20% (USD 234,350) of the funds to enhance the capacity of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, while the remaining 80% (USD 937,395.41) would be returned to the government for the procurement of locally produced food for the same initiative. The Minister requests WFP to transfer the Government’s portion of the funds to the following account: Account Name: GoL General Revenue FY2025, Account Number: 1602007163 Bank Name: Central Bank of Liberia Branch Name/Address: Central Bank of Liberia P.O. Box 2048 Lynch and Ashmun Street Monrovia, Liberia, and SWIFT Code: CBLRLRLMXXX.
Despite Minister Augustine Ngafuan’s unlawful actions in transferring funds belonging to the government of Liberia without the necessary authorization from the National Legislature, as mandated by law, surrogates of the current regime have aggressively accused former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah of misappropriating the entire $30 million allocated for COVID-19 response efforts. In a press conference held on July 4, 2025, former Minister Tweah described the allegations as a conspiracy to destroy his reputation and emphasized the need for honest national discourse. “We cannot fight corruption by lying on innocent people; by sustaining fake and false narratives in the public when the facts are evident and clear as day,” he said.
Tweah further clarified that the COVID-19 Household Food Support Program (COHFSP) was financed through a $25 million loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a $5 million grant from the World Bank. The World Food Program (WFP) was responsible for managing these funds, which resulted in expenditures totaling $23.838 million. This left a remaining balance of $1.171 million to be returned to the government and $857,555 to be reimbursed to the World Bank. Notably, the current Unity Party government, under Minister Ngafuan’s leadership, has even attempted to reallocate $500,000 in savings from the COHFSP to support the Home-Grown School Feeding Program.
