By Landing Colley
The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs has told the National Assembly Members that the total government local funds expenditure has reached D5.08 billion dalasi as at end of April.
In his breakdown, Mambureh Njie said they paid 24 percent on grant, 12 percent on debt service and 12 percent on capital development, which is “29 percent more than the same period last year, when government expenditure reached D3.95 billion.”
He said out of the total (GLF) expenditure, 24 percent was spent on other recurrent, 26 percent on personnel.
He added that other recurrent expenditure has increased from 994 million in 2019 to 1.2 billion in 2020, recording a growth of 22%, whilst 22% of its approved budget was spent during the period under review.
“The end of April 2020, Personnel Emolument (PE) increased from D1.02 billion in 2019 to D 1.34 billion in 2020, recording a 31% year on year growth. Debt service has decreased by 51% from D1.2 billion in April 2019 to D 607 million in April 2020,” he said.
According to him, the top three spending Ministries during the period under review are the Ministries of Basic and Secondary Education 916 million, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure 478 million and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare 372 million. He added that “in terms of absorption rates, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure has absorbed 73% of its approved budget as of end April 2020, and this was due to the payment made towards the Banjul Rehabilitation project.”
He said 436 million was approved for the roads and bridges budget line at end April 2020 and 428 million was absorbed as 98% absorbed rate.
“The food and food services budget line item increased from D50 million in May 2019 to D115 million in May 2020 due to the expansion of the school feeding program under the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and feeding provided to security sector,” he added.