MONROVIA, Nov. 10 -- Liberia's government is preparing to spend more money than at any time in its history. The draft national budget for fiscal year 2027, prepared by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, totals US$1,538,916,274. That is US$236 million, or 18.1 percent, more than the US$1.30 billion approved for 2026.

By Rodney D. Sieh

The government calls it "A Growing Budget for Bigger Impact." The timing helps. On 14 September 2026, domestic revenue collection passed US$1 billion in a single year for the first time. Officials credit a mining boom, a stronger Liberian dollar and a planned switch from a sales tax (GST) to value-added tax (VAT).

But a line-by-line review of the 845-page document by FrontPageAfrica shows th...