Monrovia, Liberia - The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning through the Department of Comptroller and Accountant General, over the weekend officially launched the Public Financial Management awareness in Montserrado county.
It is geared towards informing citizens across the 15 Liberian counties on how the government collects public resources, and whether the expenditure of these resources are in the right direction for development purposes.
It was held under theme: ‘’ Public Financial Management & You ‘’ took place at the Ministry of Information Culture Affairs and Tourism, during its regular Thursday press briefing.
Making remarks at the opening, Liberia's Comptroller and Accountant General, Hon. Janka A. Kowo said: "this launch is meant to inform the public on the various types of reforms across ministries and agencies, especially the comptrollers and accountant general department".
Hon. Kowo thanked the World Bank for its support towards the process including the bank's commitment and efforts in supporting the government national development agenda under the leadership of President George M. Weah.
The financial expert expressed optimism about projected growth and development expected in the short and medium terms.‘’ We will soon experience a huge road connectivity in the southeast and in other parts of Liberia’’ says Hon. Kowu.
‘’ The President's vision is directed towards road construction, energy, health and others across the fifteen counties. We will soon experience relief in the eastern part of Liberia and the massive improvement in road construction’’ he added.
According to him, about 50 persons have been recruited under the public financial management unit to form part of the awareness and to disseminate information on public financial management best practices.
‘’ Fifty Liberian were recruited under the public financial management unit to form part of the awareness and to disseminate information on public financial management best practices ’’ he explained.
He noted that they were hired to work during the period of three months for the first phase of the awareness in the first four counties, Montserrado, Bomi, Margibi and Grand Bassa County.
He pointed out that Public Financial management is about collecting government taxes and how those taxes are used for the right purpose.’’ We are talking about the collection of government money and how they are being spent in the right direction of the country’’ he added.
The Public Financial Management act was established and approved in 2009 by the National Legislature and signed in to law by the president of Liberia