Gambia: 'C-Budget to Ensure More Govt Financial Accountability'

By Yunus S. Saliu

The government of The Gambia has launched a new budget concept dubbed 'Citizens' Budget', a tool the Finance and Economic Affairs minister, Kebba S. Touray, said will ensure more financial accountability of the government to its citizen.
The new concept, launched Wednesday morning at a local hotel in Banjul, among other things, will further ensure that citizens are in a better position to determine if their needs and interests are adequately catered for in the national budget as well as affording them the opportunity to better relate with and take advantage of the opportunities it offers.
The Finance minister, in his remark, said the introduction of this new concept is fitting given that accountability has been a hallmark of President Jammeh's administration. He said with time and experience, the government will be more informed and therefore increases the depth and scope of its budget process.
Minster Touray said very few countries in the world have adopted the full Citizens Budget process as recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He disclosed that The Gambia has just begun the process with the reproduction of the approved conventional budget of 2014 into a format that will be easily understood by the ordinary citizen.
"However, come 2015, a more community based consultations budget process shall be deployed and requirements of individuals and communities shall be determined and considered in the generation of the budget, which in turn will be reproduced into a Citizens Budget edition," he assured.
Like other countries in Africa and the rest of the world, the minister said The Gambia currently practices the conventional system of public budgeting.
On behalf of his Ministry, Touray thanked the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for supporting the commencement of the Citizens Budget process in The Gambia by paying for the services of the consultants and Emanic Consulting for undertaking the first attempt of this laudable endeavor.
He also thanked President Jammeh Babili Mansa for his commitment to the empowerment of citizens, reiterating that this concept will ensure more accountability and transparency.
The NDP Resident coordinator in The Gambia, Ade Mamonyane Lekeotje commended the government for the bold step towards more accountability to its citizens. She said the Citizens' Budget will enhance citizens' dialogue on national policies and plans, and in reflecting the priorities and need of the people.
She pointed out that it will further provide the government a platform to account on what it has done to implement the policies and plans as the result of its efforts; whilst the citizens on their part, will be able to exercise their responsibilities to the government.
"The Citizen budget," she continued, "is an essential tool for enhancing government's transparency and enabling citizens' participation which is essential for development in the fight against poverty and corruption."
"Since it is a medium through which the government can communicate its perspective to a broad audience, it is an opportunity for the government to enhance public knowledge about the Citizens Budget".
She expressed UNDP's delight in partnering with the government in this endeavor, saying they hope to work more closely with the government in its institutionalisation consultation with the citizens on budget preparation, execution and monitoring.

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201410241537.html