Claim: A Facebook user is alleging that the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Finance, has reduced the benefits of public officials amid the U.S. foreign aid freeze.
Verdict: Misleading! The Ministry of Finance did not reduce the salary and benefits of public officials. According to the head of communications at the Ministry of Finance, no policy has been introduced to reduce these benefits and salaries.
Full Text
A Facebook user De Amb. Wes posted on a social platform named “FRIES FM,” alleging that President Joseph Boakai, through the Ministry of Finance, reduced the salary and benefits of public officials amid a U.S. foreign aid freeze.
“This is laudable! In response to public concerns, the Unity Party-led administration of President Joseph Boakai introduced major fiscal reforms to curb spending. Under the new policy, which takes effect in this year’s 2025 budget, all government officials, including ministers, heads of agencies, and SOE executives, will have their benefits significantly reduced.”
Meanwhile, other online platforms, including Punch TV Live and The Liberian Influence, shared the post.
Recently, the Trump administration froze all foreign aid, with Liberia being no exception among those affected countries.
However, DUBAWA decided to verify the claim as part of its effort to counter misinformation and disinformation.
Verification
To begin with, DUBAWA did a Google search to ascertain if any credible media platform had carried the story, but nothing was found.
When contacted, Patience Senkpeni, the head of communications at the Ministry of Finance, described the claim as false, noting that such information is not from the Ministry of Finance’s Official website.
“No, this is not from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. For any information, please verify from our website or Facebook pages. We always post information about this on our Facebook page or website, www.mfdp.gov.lr.”
Conclusion
With a response from the head of communications at the Ministry of Finance, the claim made by a Facebook user, De Amb. Wes and other online platforms about the reduction in public officials’ salaries and benefits are misleading.