LISGIS Achieves Milestones in 2024: Director General Ngafuan Highlights Progress

By Julius T. Jaesen, II
Managing Editor

Monrovia December 12, 2024 —The Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) has marked 2024 as a year of groundbreaking accomplishments, according to its Director General, Richard Fortoma Ngafuan. Speaking at a press conference in Monrovia, Ngafuan detailed the institution’s successes in capacity building, agricultural statistics, inflation monitoring, and Liberia’s growing stature on the international stage.

Ngafuan emphasized that LISGIS has prioritized building a skilled workforce to address Liberia’s statistical needs. “This year, we sponsored 24 staff members for Master’s degree programs in critical fields such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Biostatistics, Development Economics, and Data Science,” he revealed. These programs, undertaken at renowned institutions like the University of Malawi and the University of Rome Tor Vergata, aimed to equip staff with the expertise necessary for addressing complex developmental challenges.

In addition to long-term academic programs, LISGIS conducted short-term training initiatives for 30 staff members in areas such as GIS, financial management, and communication. Ngafuan described this approach as a “dual strategy to enhance immediate skill application while preparing for sustained institutional growth.”

“These investments are already paying off,” he noted. “Our workforce is now better equipped to leverage modern methodologies and technologies in data collection, analysis, and dissemination, ensuring that LISGIS remains a cornerstone of Liberia’s development agenda.”

Highlighting one of LISGIS’s major achievements, Ngafuan reported the successful completion of the Liberia Agriculture Census. “The census identified 338,630 agricultural households across the country, with Nimba, Bong, and Lofa counties hosting the largest concentrations,” he said. He pointed out that nearly 99% of households engage in crop cultivation, with rice and cassava emerging as the dominant crops.

However, the findings also uncovered significant challenges. “Only 2.3% of agricultural holdings utilize irrigation systems, and 64.5% of female household heads lack formal education, compared to 38.3% of their male counterparts,” Ngafuan stated. He described these gaps as critical areas for targeted interventions to enhance agricultural productivity and inclusivity.

Ngafuan also noted the reliance on traditional farming tools, with 94% of households using cutlasses and 87% depending on hand hoes. “These findings underscore the urgent need for modernization and mechanization in Liberia’s agricultural sector,” he remarked.

Turning to inflation, Ngafuan praised the steady decline in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) throughout 2024. “We started the year with inflation at 10.5%, but by October, it had dropped to 7.2%,” he explained. He attributed this achievement to coordinated macroeconomic policies, including the Central Bank of Liberia’s tight liquidity management and sound fiscal policies.

“These efforts have safeguarded consumer purchasing power and reinforced economic stability,” Ngafuan stated, underscoring LISGIS’s role in supporting Liberia’s financial resilience.

Discussing Liberia’s external trade performance, Ngafuan revealed that the country recorded a total trade value of $2.64 billion in 2024, comprising $1.03 billion in exports and $1.61 billion in imports. “Gold, rubber, and iron ore were the leading exports, accounting for over 96% of the total export value,” he said.

Ngafuan also highlighted Liberia’s key trading partners. “Switzerland remained our top export destination, while imports were dominated by China and India,” he disclosed.

Reflecting on his election as Chairman of the Statistical Commission for Africa during the 9th African Statistical Conference in Addis Ababa, Ngafuan described the moment as “historic.” He stated, “This is the first time Liberia has achieved this honor, elevating our nation’s profile in statistical leadership across the continent.”

As Chairman, Ngafuan pledged to prioritize statistical development and foster stronger partnerships among African nations. “My focus will be on leveraging robust data systems to support sustainable development, informed decision-making, and regional integration,” he affirmed.

Ngafuan outlined LISGIS’s ongoing activities, including a follow-up agriculture survey in the northwest, an informal cross-border trade survey, and the nationwide Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES). He explained that these initiatives aim to provide deeper insights into Liberia’s socio-economic conditions and guide evidence-based policymaking.

“As we move into 2025, LISGIS remains committed to delivering high-quality data that informs decision-making and drives sustainable development,” Ngafuan stated.

Ngafuan’s remarks reflected LISGIS’s transformative impact in 2024 and its continued dedication to shaping Liberia’s future. “Together with our stakeholders, we will build a data-driven future that fosters growth, equity, and prosperity for all Liberians,” he concluded, signaling a promising trajectory for the nation under his leadership.