MFDP Presents FY2024 Draft Recast Budget to Legislature…As Speaker Koffa Discloses Additional Measures to Investigate Budget Alteration Allegation

By: William K. Howard

Capitol Hill: The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has submitted to the House of Representatives the 2024 Draft Recast Budget.

Submitting the Recast Budget Friday, 16 August, Acting Finance Minister Anthony Myers said the submission the budget is based on their observation of the performance in the first six months of the year and a need to rebalance the budget in response to revenue performance and the Government desire to protect critical expenditure that is of priority for the Country.

Acting Minister Myers was accompanied by Deputy Minister for Budget Tanneh Geraldine Brunson, Assistant Minister for Budget Sarah M. Mulbah and Deputy Minister for Administration Bill McGill Jones among others.

But the Joint public Accounts and Expenditure committee Chair, Margibi County district #5 Representative has raised eyebrows regarding alleged fingering of the previously agreed national draft budget.

Rep. Clarence G. Gahr has since argued that; there is still LBO, instead of PAC in the final printing of the 2024 national budget, K- Power allotment that was never seen nor discuss during the budget presentation by the executive and there was additional shifting in ministries and Agencies allotment about 15% which was to be brought to the knowledge of the legislature before such action is taken.

He, along with Rep. Bility, Sen. Nathaniel McGill and others are calling for full investigation into such alleged action or they will gather support from other colleagues to resist any discussion on the recast.

Receiving the Draft Recast Budget on behalf of the 55th Legislature, House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa urged the Ministry of Finance Development Planning to submit all supporting documents for the Recast Budget to aid the Ways, Means and Finance Committee during its scrutiny.

Speaker J. Fonati Koffa said in order to improve the budget process he announced additional measures aimed at investigating allegation of budget alteration and has since named a special investigative committee chaired by Bong County Electoral District 4 Representative Robert Wongbe and co-Chair by Montserrado County Electoral District 7 Representative Emmanuel Dahn. The members include; Hon. Thomas Romeo Quioh, Hon. Sekou Kanneh, and Hon. Sumo Mulbah.

Speaker Koffa said the Legislature remains committed in the fight against corruption and will promote to the high standards transparency and accountability in Government.

The 2024 Budget was approved by the 55th Legislature in April to the tune of US$738,859,827, an increase of 6.7 percent from the version submitted by the Executive through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, which was US$692 million.

Whilst is true there’s a need for the country to move forward, the issue of transparency and accountability is also key to the ongoing development process.

 Now, the successful passage of the recast draft budget will mainly rely on the Special Investigative Committee Report.