In Summary:
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A panelist on Spoon Talk claimed that in 2023, the Judiciary had US$18 million in the budget, and it later increased to US$19 million in 2024. He further claimed that in 2025, this budget increased to US$24 million and US$22.4 million in 2026.
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We fact-checked his claim by reviewing allocations to the judiciary in the national budget
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found the figure he mentioned for 2023 to be CORRECT, but his 2024, 2025, and 2026 figures to be INCORRECT
On January 16, Emmanuel G. K. George, a panelist on Spoon Talk, claimed that allocations to Liberia’s Judiciary have continued to fluctuate. George argued that inadequate funding continues to expose the court system to corruption and undermines President Joseph Boakai’s fight against the practice, stressing the need for stronger financial support for the Judiciary.
The claim
Mr. George’s exact quote, “The court in 2023 had US$18 million and went up to US$19 million the following year, up to US$24 million last year, and this year’s budget has gone back to $22.4 million.”
Claim One: Was the Judiciary Allocated US$18m in the 2023 National Budget?
Rating Justification
To verify this claim, we reviewed the approved 2023 National Budget published by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP). Our review shows that the Judiciary was allocated US$18,453,234, approximately US$18 million, in the 2023 budget.
However, the 2023 estimated outturn indicates that the Judiciary spent US$19,177,180, or about US$19 million.
According to the International Monetary Fund, an estimated outturn refers to the expected final result of revenue or expenditure for a fiscal year, based on data available before accounts are fully closed.
Conclusion
Based on the review of the national budget, we conclude that the claim made by Emmanuel George that the Judiciary was allocated US$18 million in the 2023 national budget is correct.
However, the estimated outturn shows that the judiciary received a total of US$19,177,180 or US$19 million.
Claim Two: Did the Judiciary Budget Increase to US$19 Million In 2024
To also fact-check if, in 2024, the Judiciary budget was increased to US$19 million, we reviewed the approved 2024 National Budget, which shows that the Judiciary was allocated US$20,734,964 (about US$20 million), not US$19 million.
Further review of the FY 2026 draft budget, which reports past budget performance, shows that under 2024 actual spending, the Judiciary received US$22,949,353, or approximately US$22 million.
Conclusion
Based on the review of the 2024 and 2025 draft national budget, we conclude that Emmanuel George’s claim that in the 2024 national budget, the allocation to the Judiciary increased to US$19 million is INCORRECT.
In the 2024 budget, the judiciary was allocated US$20,734,964 or US$20 million. However, the 2024 budget Actual shows that the Judiciary spent a total of US$22,949,353, or US$22 million, not US$19 million as claimed by Mr. George.
Claim Three: Did the Judiciary Budget Increase to US$24 million in the 2025 National Budget?
To check this claim, we reviewed the FY 2026 draft budget, which includes prior-year allocations. It shows that in 2025, the Judiciary was allocated US$25,019,964, or about US$25 million.
However, the Year-to-Date (YTD) as of October 31, 2025, indicates that the Judiciary had received US$20,259,454, or about US$20 million, at that point.
YTD refers to the cumulative amount recorded from the start of the fiscal year up to a specified date.
Conclusion
Based on this review, we conclude that the claim made by Mr. George that in the 2025 budget, the Judiciary budget increased to US$20 million is incorrect. In the 2025 budget, the Judiciary was allocated US$25,019,954 or US$25 million, but the YTD as of October 31, 2025, shows that the Judiciary spent a total of US$20,259,454 or US$20 million. The approved allocation was US$20.7 million, and actual spending exceeded that amount.
Claim #4: Has the Judiciary Budget Increased to US$22.4 million in the 2026 budget?
To check Mr. George’s claim that in the current budget, the Judiciary’s budget decreased to US$22.4 million, we reviewed the FY 2026 draft budget, the latest publicly available document, which shows that the Judiciary is projected to receive US$32,690,028, or approximately US$32 million.
Conclusion
Based on this finding, we conclude Mr. George’s claim that the judiciary budget decreased to $22.44 million in 2026 is incorrect. The judiciary is poised to receive a total of US$32,690,028 or US$32 million in the 2026 budget, as shown in the draft budget.
