Liberia: Ministry of Finance Launches Nationwide Engagement on 2024 National Open Budget Initiative - FrontPageAfrica
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Gbarnga, Bong County– With support from USAID’s Local Empowerment for Accountability and Decentralization (LEAD) Activity, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, through its Department of Budget and Development Planning, has launched a nationwide engagement on FY2024 National Open Budget Initiative and FY2024 Pre-Budget Consultation Outreach.
The exercise, which commenced on Tuesday, September 24, is set to conclude on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
The initiative seeks to promote transparency and accountability by giving citizens the opportunity to review the government’s fiscal performance and provide input on priorities for the upcoming budget cycle.
The official launch took place at the Gbarnga Administrative Building. Officially launching the exercise, Mr. Mohammed Swaray, the Senior Technical Advisor for LEAD Activity underscored the importance of citizen participation in shaping the national budget.
According to Mr. Swaray, “The purpose of this nationwide consultation is to enhance citizens’ understanding of the government’s fiscal performance during the first six months of the 2024 national budget, which covers the period from January 1 to June 30, 2024. By reviewing this, we can assess how well the government is meeting its commitments and also identify areas for improvement.”
In addition to reviewing the 2024 mid-year budget performance, the Ministry of Finance also kicked off a nationwide consultation process for the Fiscal Year 2025 Pre-Budget Planning.
This consultation aims to gather feedback from citizens regarding projects and priorities they believe should be included in the next fiscal year’s budget.
During the event, participants were given access to the Fiscal Year 2024 Mid-Year Budget Report Fact Sheet.
This document, prepared in accordance with the Amendment and Restatement of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act of 2009, provides a summary of the government’s revenue collection, expenditures, contributions from international partners, and progress made under the ARREST Agenda, a key component of Liberia’s national development strategy.
The launch was well attended by citizens, local government officials, and representatives from civil society organizations.
Participants expressed their appreciation for the initiative and praised the Ministry of Finance and its partners for prioritizing citizen engagement.
They stressed the importance of translating the recommendations gathered during the outreach into concrete actions and policies.
One local leader from Gbarnga, Madam Alice Weah, stated, “This is an important step for us. We are seeing the government making efforts to bring the budget process to the people. However, we want to ensure that our input is not just collected but also acted upon. The projects we highlight must be prioritized, especially those that directly impact education and healthcare in rural areas.”
Another participant, Mr. Samuel Kollie, a youth advocate from Bong County, expressed similar sentiments. “I’m glad to see this level of transparency. It’s crucial for us as young people to be involved in decisions that will shape our future. But we need more than just consultation; we need results. The government must implement the projects that we are proposing, especially in terms of job creation and vocational training for youth.”
Several participants stressed the need for improved infrastructure, with calls for better roads, schools, and healthcare facilities.
They noted that the government’s commitment to development should focus on sustainable and long-term projects that benefit the most vulnerable populations.
The ongoing engagement will cover approximately 11 counties across Liberia, including Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Nimba, and River Gee Counties.
In her closing remarks, Caroline Myers, Assistant Director for Budget Dissemination and Fiscal Transparency at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, thanked the participants and facilitators for their contributions to the successful launch of the initiative.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparency and inclusiveness in the budget process.
“We are committed to ensuring that the national budget reaches every citizen so that they too can make their input,” Myers said. “This is not just a formality. We are serious about taking the budget to you all. That’s our responsibility, and we are committed to doing it for you. That’s why we are here.”