TI Strengthens Public Finance Management
Transparency International–Sierra Leone (TI-SL), as part of its operational mandate to cut down the level of corruption and to improve the level of transparency, accountability and accurate spending of public funds, has engaged various stakeholders from the media, civil society members, school officials, council workers, to youths from various youth organization.
Giving a background of the programme the Executive Director, Madam Lavina Banduah said her organization has secured a 6 month funding from the government to put in place the financial management activities of the local councils and all MDAs. Mrs. Lavina further stated that the fund collected is for two districts. She noted that the funds will be utilized in the training of 35 media practitioners, 25 council officials, 40 school officials and also a selection of youths from various youth bodies from each district to be trained on public financial management. She further revealed that training commences in September and that those trained will be responsible for effective monitoring of public financial management within the council and all MDAs.
The executive director of TI, Lavina Banduah stressed the need for proper arrangement of finances and maintained that financial records should always be intact. She again said that Sierra Leone should try by all means to keep funding herself rather than depending on donors and therefore made a clarion call to all politicians to put good system in place to meet mineral tracks value as expected. Banduah recalled that Sierra Leone has about 27 minerals outs of 52 minerals in the world but it is yet to convince donors on development. She encouraged the media and civil society to always work together to maintain proper monitoring of public finances.
Mr. Lamin Koroma, TI, NSA Kenema Representive informed the participants that their role as civil society are numerous among which is to demand services from duty Bearers.
He stated that councils should not consider them as enemies but as partners in development. He stressed the value of accountability and transparency while observing that Sierra Leoneans are not accustomed to such even at household level. He pleaded on the media to report on public financial management issues rather than on things that will hinder the status of the country.
He said very shortly, media practitioners, school management committees, youths and council officials will be trained on how to effectively monitor councils and MDAs a training that is expected to increase transparency and accountability in public funds.
He promised of leaving no stone unturned in the monitoring system. He reiterated that one of the critical benchmarks of development is corruption control which he noted that through collaboration and cooperation of this formidable team work between public officers and local citizens will ensure proper and judicious use of public funds.
He later informed the executive director of TI-SL that Kenema civil society and the media are working in close relationship.
Funds for this training were secured from the government through the Ministry of Finance & Economic Development.
By, Kamal M. Barrie, Kenema.
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