South Sudan finance ministry pledges to correct financial spending
September 28, 2010 (JUBA) — The regional government of Southern Sudan has pledged to embark on correct procedures to ensure appropriate financial spending, saying there are no short cuts to follow in acquisition and usage of the public resources.
Salvatore Garang Mabiordit, Undersecretary in the ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, on Tuesday said efforts had been made to ensure proper procedures are followed without lenience. There should be no shortcuts in following finance procedures no matter how long or short the procedures required for a specific case would be.
Mabiordit told the Sudan Tribune from Juba shortly after holding a weekly meeting with the head of public account department at the ministry, instructing him to ensure appropriate financial procedures are adequately followed without deviations.
“I have just finished meeting with head of public account over procedures and processes involved in financial transactions. Asked why the meeting was important for public consumption,” he said the public needs to know procedures required to be followed when involved in financial transaction.
” It is important because some people are always hesitant to follow required procedures. There are people who are often assigned to withdraw public funds either on behalf of groups or institutions, but who show disinterested to follow [the] right procedures,” explained the official.
Many view steps taken by regional finance ministry as positive steps to address financial irregularities in the region as some officials, who remain in an ambiguous status, have inappropriately followed right and correct procedures while engaged in financial transactions either in government or private institutions.
Mawien Aguer, a government official, told Sudan Tribune from Juba that steps taken by the ministry would be a relief not only to the government but also to the private institutions. “Procedures are what define credible system without loopholes. Loopholes can always be avoided if correct procedures are followed,” said Aguer.
In November 2009, the semi-autonomous regional government of southern Sudan acknowledged missing some $200 million US dollars without clear records showing how these funds have been spent. The funds were intended to buy food to feed local population affected by tribal conflicts, poor harvest due to short or unreliable rainfall in the region, hence prompted the regional assembly and council to pass a decision instructing the Finance ministry to allocate funds to purchase grains.
This came following a report made by the United Nations which appealed for food aid and gave warning that millions of people from local population would face severe food shortage if no immediate attention was paid.
The public funds intended to buy grains however went to ghost contractors. The list of contractors alleged to have been contracted by the ministry of finance to buy and delivery grains to various states affected by the mischief did not exist in records.
(ST)