Senate Interrogates MFDP and CBL on Health Sector Budget Issues

Officials from the MFDP and CBL were questioned by the Senate regarding funding inefficiencies in Liberia’s health sector, highlighting potential forfeiture of budget allocations by County Health Officers. CBL maintained it has no control over fund reversals, while Deputy Minister Brunson noted a three-month spending window under the PFM-Law, but failed to clarify details, leading to senator dissatisfaction.

On March 21, 2025, officials from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) were interrogated by the Senate Joint Committee regarding financial deficiencies in the health sector. This scrutiny was prompted by notifications sent to County Health Officers indicating they risk forfeiting their budgetary allocations for the first quarter unless funds were spent by the end of March.

During the joint public hearing, attended by various ministries including Health and Civil Service, officials were tasked with justifying the delayed funding disbursement to hospitals nationwide. The dialogue aimed to seek clarity on a memorandum from the MFDP, which warned about financial reversals affecting funds designated for county health services.

CBL Executive Governor Henry F. Saamoi asserted that the bank did not possess the authority to reverse funds already allocated to health institutions. He emphasized that once funds are deposited into accounts, they remain available for usage, contradicting claims of CBL involvement in fund manipulations.

In her responses, Deputy MFDP Minister for Budget, Madam Tenneh G. Brunson, neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the controversial memo. She referred to the Public Financial Management Law (PFM-Law) indicating that County Health Officers have an allowance of three months after the year-end to utilize their funds. Brunson highlighted a period from March 21 to March 31 for spending, suggesting that unspent monies would revert to the government.

However, the Deputy Minister’s comments seemed to exacerbate concerns among senators, leading to expressions of frustration over the MFDP’s inability to process payments to County Health Officers effectively. Senators criticized the Ministry for upholding stringent regulations while failing to ensure complete disbursement of the 2024 budget prior to the deadline.

Moreover, senators expressed disappointment in Brunson’s unclear handling of the situation, questioning her long tenure at the Ministry, and urging better articulation and citation of the PFM-Law during such critical inquiries.

The Senate Joint Committee criticized the MFDP and CBL for funding gaps in the health sector, highlighting the risks faced by County Health Officers regarding their budget allocations. The clarifications provided by CBL and MFDP officials did not sufficiently address the Senate’s concerns, leading to greater scrutiny of the Ministry’s financial management practices. The ongoing dialogue underscores the need for accountability and transparency in the disbursement of health sector funds.

Original Source: thenewdawnliberia.com