Liberia Roundup: 2024 Budget approval, education, presidential appointments

National Budget approved

Liberia’s House of Representatives approved the 2024 National Budget for the fiscal year on April 29. This follows a rigorous debate by members of the House on April 25, 2024. The debate preceded a report from the joint Ways, Means, and Finance and Public Accounts Committee of the House and the Liberian Senate respectively. The 2024 budget which totals US$738,859,827 was an increment from the previous US$692,408,827 which was submitted. The increment is expected to benefit sectors including Transparency and Accountability, Security and Rule of Law, Health, Education, and Agriculture, GNN reports.

Teaching in limbo

The only public school in Deman Town, Bomi County has been closed due to its deplorable state, leaving over two thousand youths stranded. The Bai T. Moore Town Public School in Senjeh District has been deteriorating for years and was closed at the beginning of 2024. According to The New Dawn, this has contributed to loitering by children of school-going age. It has also led to a rise in social vices including drug abuse, and domestic violence. Many teenage pregnancy cases have also been recorded since the closure of the school. Authorities are yet to address the issue.

Budget allocation to lawmakers

Liberia’s Speaker of Parliament, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa dismissed calls for direct budgetary support for legislative projects to be sent directly to lawmakers. His decision comes after some lawmakers in the House called for proper allocation of budgets to enable them to work on district projects in their respective areas. But Speaker Koffa proposed that monies should be transferred to the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE) to ensure lawmakers exercise their oversight responsibilities while maintaining accountability. These deliberations emerged on April 25 following the House Ways, Means and Finance Committee’s report, local news outlet Front Page Africa reports.

Surfing competition

Liberia is set to host its first international surf competition. The country was recently recognized as one of the top ten surfing destinations globally. The inaugural surfing competition will be held under the global theme, “Surf to Rise”. The event is scheduled to happen at Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County from May 24^th to 28^th 2024. The surfing competition is being spearheaded by the Liberian Surfing Association and the Liberia National Olympic Committee, according to the New Dawn outlet.

Boakai constitutes governing boards

Liberia’s President, Joseph Boakai has constituted the National Education Advisory Board, the Board of Governors, and the Principal of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI). A total of nineteen members were appointed on the National Education Advisory Board while fifteen members were appointed on the Board of Governors of the Booker Washington Institute. The president urged all nominees and appointees to demonstrate diligence, commitment, integrity, professionalism, and loyalty in service to the country. According to the Executive Mansion, the appointments take effect immediately.