The Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander B. Cummings, has welcomed Liberia's achievement of surpassing US$1 billion in domestic revenue collection. He described this milestone as encouraging, particularly as the government moves toward its ambitious US$1.2 billion national budget. Cummings stressed that the impact of the increased revenue would depend on how the government allocates and spends the funds. He warned that if the government continues allocating resources in the same manner as in previous years, ordinary Liberians may not experience meaningful improvements in their living conditions.
Cummings made the remarks in an interview with journalists on Tuesday, September 22, at the Don Bosco Youth Center in New Matadi, Monrovia. He recalled his earlier advocacy for a billion-dollar national budget, which he proposed during a presidential debate in 2017. At the time, his suggestion was met with skepticism, but he believes that Liberia's budget remains comparatively small when measured against those of neighboring countries. Cummings suggested that the country has the potential to mobilize more resources to finance development.
Despite welcoming the revenue milestone, Cummings emphasized that the government must ensure that increased public resources translate into tangible benefits for citizens rather than simply expanding the size of the national budget. He called on citizens to continue demanding results from the government, which he said bears responsibility for the welfare of the country. Cummings also cited persistent corruption concerns and unresolved questions surrounding the Foya Project and developments at the Guinean border as issues requiring greater public scrutiny.
Cummings argued that Liberia's budget is still behind those of its neighboring countries, suggesting that the country has room for growth. He expressed his opinion that the country should aim for a larger budget, stating that it should have been a billion-dollar budget years ago and could potentially be two or three billion dollars now. The ANC leader's comments come as the government prepares to implement its ambitious national budget.
The ANC leader also made the remarks while attending an awards ceremony organized by Montserrado County District #9 Representative Frank Saah Foko Jr. to recognize outstanding young people and professionals for excellence and community service. Cummings praised Rep. Foko for sustaining and building upon the legacy of the late former District #9 Representative Munah Pelham-Youngblood, who initiated the program.
Cummings commended the young people and other participants for their contributions to the district, thanking Foko for continuing the legacy of his predecessor. He described the awards ceremony as a wonderful initiative and said he was inspired by what he witnessed at the event. The initiative celebrates individual achievements while encouraging academic advancement, professional growth, and youth empowerment in the district.
On the prospects of opposition political unity, Cummings described collaboration among opposition parties as important and said the ANC remains open to discussions with other political groups. However, he cautioned that any renewed effort must take into account the lessons learned from the collapse of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), a former alliance of opposition parties. Cummings urged Liberians to remain resilient while demanding accountability from the government.
Key points
- Alexander B. Cummings welcomes Liberia's US$1 billion revenue milestone but cautions against budget spending that fails to benefit ordinary citizens.
- Cummings calls for greater accountability and improved public welfare in Liberia.
- The ANC leader suggests that Liberia's budget remains comparatively small compared to neighboring countries.
