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Claim: According to embattled House Speaker Fonati Koffa, Liberians in the U.S. remitted approximately $800 million in 2023, an amount higher than the national budget.
Verdict: False! Liberians ‘ remittances from the U.S. in 2023 did not exceed the national budget. The national budget signed into law by President Joseph Boakai is $880.66 million, a figure greater than the claimed $800 million. Additionally, Koffa’s claim conflicts with official data from the World Bank and the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL).
Full Text
As Donald Trump’s immigration policies continue to spark debate, concerns have emerged among policymakers about their potential impact on African migrants, including Liberians living in the United States.
Responding to this issue, House Embattled Speaker Fonati Koffa expressed concern over potential deportations and their economic consequences. On his Facebook posts, Koffa stated:
“Let’s pray that Donald Trump doesn’t go for them.”
He further claimed that the Liberians in the U.S. remitted approximately $800 million by 2023, adding that this amount exceeded the national budget.
There were mixed reactions to the post, with some users expressing concern over the government’s role in protecting Liberians abroad and others questioning the accuracy of Koffa’s figures.
For instance, Junior B. Zuu, a Liberian Facebook user, commented,
“Yes, Liberians in the U.S. supported this current government in coming to power. We hope and pray that the government does something quickly.”
Meanwhile, another user, James Bangura, sought clarification of the remittance figure:
“Please break down how we are benefiting $800 million from the diaspora Liberians in the U.S. in 2023.”
To verify his claim, Koffa posted a graph from the research website ‘Statista,’ which he suggested supported his figure. Given the public interest in this claim, DUBAWA fact-checked the statement.
Verification
DUBAWA looked at it from the perspectives of different themes and multiple sources.
1. National Budget vs. Remittance Figures
The National Budget for 2025, signed into law, is $880.66 million, meaning Koffa’s $800 million claim is lower than the actual budget. This contradicts his assertion that remittances from the U.S. exceeded the national budget.
2. Source of the $800 Million Claim
Koffa’s Statista reference does not specifically track remittances from the United States alone.
Instead, it provides data on total personal remittances to Liberia from all countries between 2010 and 2023. This misrepresentation makes his claim misleading.
3. Data from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL)
The CBL’s Economic Review (2023) states that total remittances for 2023 stood at $253.2 million—far lower than Koffa’s $800 million figure. This includes remittances from all countries, not just the United States.
4. World Bank Data
The World Bank provides remittance data as a percentage of GDP. In 2023, remittances accounted for 18.9% of Liberia’s GDP. If this percentage is applied to the national budget of $880.66 million, the actual remittance figure would be approximately $166.4 million—significantly lower than Koffa’s claim.
Conclusion
Fonati Koffa’s claim that remittances from Liberians in the U.S. exceeded the national budget is false. Official data from the CBL and the World Bank indicate that the remittance figures are far lower than $800 million. The claim misinterprets the data, exaggerates the remittance figures, and incorrectly compares them.
