CCP Staff Talks Sustainability for Liberia’s Pension Plan

Established in 2007, the Liberia pension plan is the oldest among the UMC central conferences, as well as one of the largest with over 1,000 participants. Earlier this year, Wespath’s Ross Lundstrom (manager-Church Relations) and Thomas Kemper traveled to Gbarnga to attend the 190th Liberia Annual Conference session.

The annual conference began with a musical procession courtesy of the College of West Africa marching band. Rev. John Mulbah, a powerful preacher who served the Church until he became visually impaired in 2015, led the opening service.

Afterwards, Lundstrom and Kemper met with several retired pastors and surviving spouses to better understand their day-to-day lives and the Liberian pension distribution system. Pensions in Liberia are currently paid in cash, but recipients showed enthusiasm for the possibility of mobile banking. Preston Yiediboe, the Holbrook auditor for West Africa, confirmed that Liberia has a reliable mobile money transfer system, with nearly all residents having access to a cell phone.

Although Liberia’s pension plan faces challenges regarding long-term funding, Lundstrom and Kemper’s visit has spurred discussion about possible changes to help make the plan more sustainable. In collaboration with the pension board and the newly formed Pension Sustainability Committee, Wespath hopes to explore alternative solutions and sustainable efforts for the plan.