A budget committee of the Oti Regional Coordinating Council (ORCC) has organised a three-day hearing of the 2024 composite budget for the Municipal and district assemblies across the region starting from October 16th to 18th 2024.
The Regional Minister addressing the committee through the Regional Coordinating Director, Rev. Harry Nii Kwatei Owoo (Chief Director), said the move was a laid down step for preparation of the annual budget for the assemblies, regional as well as the national budget. Read More
According to him, the preparation of the budget goes through process and in line the legal framework adding that the process is the foundation for which a budget is planned and also leads to the annual budget planning.
“Whatever we do must be in accordance with the rules and regulations, this document is prepared. Annual action plan is used by the assembly to execute their project implementation,” he said.
This, he said starts from the budget committee to FNA through to the general assembly and then to the ORCC to become a final working document for all assemblies.
As the finance minister presents the national budget, it’s also incumbent on the local assemblies to also prepare their budgets to be added to the national budget presentation, said the minister.
The Chief Director advised the management of the various assemblies to take note of the comments and recommendations made by the experts to replicate same in their narrative budget documents.
On Wednesday October 16 2024, Nkwanta North, Krachi West and Krachi Nchumuru district assemblies had their turn to present the 2024 composite budget draft to the committee respectively.
The second leg of the budget hearing comprised the Biakoye, Nkwanta South, and Kratchi East Municipal Assemblies on Thursday October 17, 2024 whilst Guan, Jasikan and Kadjebi district assemblies also presented theirs on Friday October 18, 2024.
During the composite budget hearing, the regional budget committee identified infraction and challenges and recommended for change to be made by the assemblies and the corrections must be made in the narrative budget document for submission to the ORCC by October 30th and for onwards submission to the Finance Ministry by November 8, 2024.
A rep of the Minister of Finance, Prince Amoako-Yeboah indicated that similar exercise is ongoing at various regions and metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies across the country.
This, he said forms a huge foundation for building a viable and sustainable and a prospect society.
He said the minister appreciate the efforts of the analysts and urged them to work closely and assiduously to over challenges that may arise in budget implementation.
Government through the Finance Ministry, he said was able to secure a staff level agreement with the international monetary fund through the conceited efforts of all MMDCEs to ensure they take the lead to improve the legal foundation to support IGF mobilisation.
It is imperative for every assembly to elect a Presiding Member and entreated the MDCE and regional ministers to election smooth election of the PMs.
Government, he said is commitment to aid the integration projects and follow due process in implementing the budget through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (GIFMIS).
Priorities the ongoing projects to avoid judgement debts, and enhance transparency and accountability
Commenting on the 2024 election, he underscored the need for the stakeholders to exercise their constitutional rights and with the responsibility to ensure the election was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere whilst delivering on their core mandates without technical challenges.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure the creations of a prosperous and viable economic development across the country.
This, according to him is instrumental in helping navigate in physical planning and management in their action plans and take initiatives to improve revenue mobilisation, take steps to pass bylaws to ensure smooth release of funds and proactive revenue generation.
He encouraged the district budget committees to follow due process to implement their approved budget, use of GIFMIS is a legal requirement and it’s incumbent on the DCEs ensure this are executed in line with the principles. The budget hearing chaired by the Regional Coordinating Director, Rev. Harry Nii Kwatei Owoo (Chief Director) also had Oti regional Budget Analyst, Dr. Samuel Darah, Human Resource Officer, Miss Janet Sambo, Regional Social Welfare Officer, Innocent Agbolosu; FDU-MOF, Prince Amoako-Yeboah and …, a rep of National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) Daniel Amofa.