By Alieu Amara Suwu
2023 Financial Year Policy Hearing that is yearly organised by Ministry of Finance, to provide an opportunity for Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to discuss and review updates on key sectoral policies according to the National Development Plan, and provides opportunity for stakeholders, including donor partners to discuss and exchange ideas on issues relating to budget formulation and execution within the Mid-Term Framework has commenced on Wednesday 21 September 2022 at the Ministry’s building, Treasury Building, George Street Freetown.
The commencement of the said traditional activity is the formal opening of the two weeks engagement with MDAs hosted state actors, including the Hon Vice President of Sierra Leone, Electoral Commission Boss and political and administrative heads of MDAs.
Sahr Jusu, Financial Secretary of the Ministry of Finance (MOF), who acted as chairperson, in his opening remarks said they are there to continue the traditional budget hearing and to have an exchange of ideas amidst challenges not as a result of expertise and competence but as a result beyond government control. He said they are today in crisis as a result of the Russia Ukraine War, which is having adverse effect on the economy. However, he said they have delivered greatly in key government priority areas. He disclosed that this year they have exceeded the World Bank budget expectation which is good.
Hon Mohammed Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President, strongly and broadly informed on government priority areas, including education, health and agriculture. He spoke on areas MDAs have to focus and directed on how they should be creative and learn how to entice investors. He described the wage bill as horizontal and revealed that employees of government are the least paid within the Sub Sahara.
He said they need to maintain strong relationship with the private sector because they are also state players and providing jobs for citizens. He called on MDAs to be recruiting skilled and innovative persons and ensure they maintain aggressive supervision.
He cautioned on the too many bureaucracies around disbursements, procurement and early preparedness towards elections, in order to avoid over expenditure. He touched on so many bothering issues that are affecting progress of the country and concluded by thanking the Ministry for their efforts in supporting government.
Sheku Mansaray, Deputy Minister of Finance 1, spoke on the main points of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget. Among these are the Ministry of Finance collaborating with the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs to pilot gender responsive budgeting in five MDAs during the FY2023 budget cycle; management of the wage bill as a priority with exception of critical categories, as there will be no recruitment in government payroll during the implementation of FY2023 payroll budget; continued support of Free Quality Education; consolidating the ongoing policy commitment of priority infrastructure projects; and revenue mobilisation measures.
He encouraged MDAs to present updated reports of all projects, contracts, donors and government disbursements and added that they should clearly indicate timelines of the completion of those contracts, projects and expenditures made.
Abdul Muwonge, World Bank Country Manager for Sierra Leone said notwithstanding that Sierra Leone has been hit by shocks; it still has a resilient economy and will thus continue to deliver. He said they are pushing as development partners especially towards critical sectors like health and education and praised the Government for the access they have given to young children to education.
He pledged to continue working with the Government but noted the inflationary pressures, so he cautioned on public expenditure and contract management with regards value for money and timeframe and then called for the reduction of domestic debts.
The Manager talked about climate change, adding that the Government can do more to protect the environment, allowing young trees to grow, diversifying building materials, strengthening and improvement in fishery and agricultural sectors.
Abubakarr Kamara from Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), representing non-state actors, thanked the Ministry for scores achieved in international budget ratings.
He raised concerns on budget credibility in allocating budgets to MDAs and commended the Police for separately drafting a budget for Family Support Unit (FSU), but said its budget should be decentralised to FSU departments in the regions.
Kamara also noted the impact the ‘Hands Off Our Girls’ campaign has made but said the stumbling block is lack of the forensic labs in the country, making the work difficult.
He also mentioned that the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has failed to produce report on the Audit Report and pointed out delays in the issue relating to the matter of the suspended Auditor General in Court. He concluded by highlighting other strides and plans they are undertaking.
Mohamed K. Konneh, Electoral Commission Chairperson, appreciated the Ministry for supporting elections management process. He talked on debts he inherited from 2018 elections and how the Government has managed to relieve those debts.
Konneh revealed that all bye-elections under him did not incur debts from internal suppliers and 99.9% of procurement of registration materials is funded by Government. He highlighted activities on the electoral calendar, starting from this year to next year. He said they need funds for result decentralization centers, to complete regional offices rehabilitation of headquarters and ware houses.
Edwin, Deputy Chairperson of Parliamentary Finance Committee on Parliamentary Expectations from MDAs for FY2023 Budget Process, started by responding to BAN comments on the Audit Report that Parliament has processes and it is currently on recess, but when they resume they will provide the PAC report.
Going further, he said Parliament has the legislative powers embedded with a prime model functions such as making law and approving budgets.
He talked about the steps involved in budget hearing in Parliament, so MDAs are required to produce all reports of all projects, list of information of funds for the period under review and budget allocated to departments and expended.
He advised that and their budget should be aligned with Government priority areas and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He informed them that they will be responding to questionnaires that will be sent to them and should be returned three days before the budget hearing. He said they should all put hands on deck for achieving the President’s vision for the betterment of Sierra Leone.
A representative from the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development gave an overview on trainings done for MDAs and works done according to the Mid-Term Development Plan; and revealed their future plans. He gave recommendations on policies to MDAs.
