ISD launches 2014 budget dissemination campaign

The Information Services Department (ISD) is poised to break the technicalities inherent in the 2014 budget statement into simple language for the easy understanding of the people in the Upper West Region.

As a result, the Department has launched a 14-day information dissemination campaign with the view to expose the public to the provisions in the budget as presented to Parliament by Mr Seth Terkper, Minister of Finance, on December 19, 2013.

Mr Abu Kabiebata Kansangbata, Deputy Regional Minister said the exercise would equip the public with the right knowledge on the budget to enable them monitor revenue mobilisation, utilisation and reporting.

It would also enable them monitor the extent of disclosure of all relevant public fiscal information in a timely and systematic manner while creating room for civil society organisations to carry out independent budget analysis and share their findings and concerns with government and the public at large.

Mr Kansangbata added that the campaign would help in highlighting the limitations of government budgets with regard to key sectors or issues in the society; enhance easy detection of bottlenecks, inefficiencies and corruption in the transfer and procurement of public goods and resources to reduce corruption and wastage.

He noted that government is committed to sustain the gains made so far by past and present administrations, by pursuing prudent micro-economic and financial measures to reduce the growth of public debt and expand infrastructure for accelerated growth and development.

Mr Issifu Benin, Regional Information Officer said methods to be used in carrying out the exercise include radio discussions, use of cinema vans to run commentary on the budget at durbars and market centres as well as organisation of town hall meetings.

He said GBC Radio Upper West in Wa, RADFORD FM in Tumu and Radio Freed in Nandom would be used for the discussion using English and local languages such as Dagaare and Sissali.

Mr J. B. Atuguba, Chief Director at the Regional Co-ordinating Council, appealed to the media to lend support to the ISD to make the exercise a big success.