W/R Minister launches budget hearing

The Western Regional Minister, Mr. Ebenezer Addo has noted that proper execution of programmes and projects by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) based on implementation of composite budget system is a prerequisite for transparent, accountable, easy coordination and good governance.“

Composite budgeting is the aggregation of projected revenues and expenditures of all departments under the MMDAs and coordinating directorate- the new budgeting system seeks to make the implementation of district programmes transparent”, he explained.

Also, he said it will seek to determine the inflow and outflow of resources and present a unified approach for district planning and budgeting systems in addition to a uniform system of monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

The minister was speaking at the launch of regional budget hearing for consideration of the 2014 composite budget for MMDAs at Tarkwa in the Western Region.

He pointed out that a visit through the various districts in the region exposed the prevalence of so many uncompleted project dotted around and mostly abandoned.

“Government policy is that no new projects should be awarded until the uncompleted ones are completed – the idea behind the policy is to avoid wastage of public funds in projects abandoned halfway” he said.

Mr. Seth Tekper, the Minister of Finance in a speech read for him challenge MMDAs to improve on the mobilization of the Internally Generated Funds (IGF) and public financial management capacities for socio-economic development in their areas.

Also, the Ministry of Finance is working to develop a framework of IGF to guide assemblies mobilize and manage local revenue –chief executives are also expected to exercise oversight responsibilities of employees.