South Sudan Central Bank governor wins global award
April 21, 2024 (JUBA) – The governor of the Central Bank of South Sudan has won an achievement award, marking the second recognition since his appointment.
The African leadership organization, based in the United States of America, issued a statement and certificate of commendation to Governor James Alic Garang.
“Presented this day in recognition of your outstanding achievements and contributions to the socio-economic development of South Sudan and Africa by extension, during the African finance leaders’ networking cocktail, which was held on April 19, 2024 at the United States Capitol, Washington DC,” it partly reads.
Garang, who previously worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has been making efforts and activities to attract local, regional and global recognition. He was recently in the U.S to participate in the 2024 spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group.
The Spring Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the IMF and the World Bank Group bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, parliamentarians, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organizations, and academics to discuss progress on the work of the institutions.
During the meeting in the U.S, the Bank governor used the opportunity to unveil his plans and strategies aimed at directing and managing the banking sector and monetary policies in a cash-strapped country struggling to contain biting inflation and hiking consumer prices undermined by shortages in supplies and stock.
A statement from the Central Bank of South Sudan welcomed the governor’s award, hoping it will energize and motivate the leadership to steer the monetary and banking sectors with fashion and dedication to improve economic situations.
Experts on the banking system said the recognition was influenced by the activities undertaken by the bank which has unveiled a transformative agenda.
“If you read the policy statement of the governor on the day of his swearing-in and assumption of office, you see that he had spoken about enhancing transparency, improving efficiency, and modernizing the banking system. This is compliance with international standards, best practices, and requirements by the international financial institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund,” explained Deng Lual, an Economics student at the University of Juba.
Meanwhile, Garang said he was deeply humbled by the recognition and pledged to coordinate, cooperate and direct his activities in a way that would reflect and meet the aspirations of South Sudanese, regional and global partners.
The House of Representatives in the state of South Carolina in the U.S also issued a statement recognizing efforts made by South Sudan’s Central Bank governor.
“We congratulate Dr. James Alic Garang as the recipient of the Top 25 African Finance Leaders of 2024. Dr. Garang is the current governor of the Bank of South Sudan. He is a distinguished economist, renowned for his expertise in economic development, macroeconomics, and environmental economics. His noble work of enhancing access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa, particularly in South Sudan and Kenya, has received widespread acclaim,” partly reads a statement released to the public on April 18, 2024.
“We, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives applaud his contribution to international finance and wish him well in all his future endeavours,” it added.
The motion recognizing Gerang’s effort was raised in the House of Representatives of Carolina by lawmaker Rosalyn D. Henderson-Myers and seconded by all the members before approval by the Speaker of the House, Murrell Smith.
It was, however, the first time a sitting governor of South Sudan’s Central Bank was being recognized by a House of Representatives in the U.S.
(ST)