By: Isatou Sarr
The Directorate of Budget, under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA), recently completed a training program for stakeholders on Public Budgeting and Expenditure, with support from the African Development Bank.
The training was held at the African Princess Hotel, with the goal of enhancing the abilities of government officials and stakeholders in The Gambia to improve public budgeting and expenditure management practices. This would increase the effectiveness and efficiency of public resource management and enhance service delivery within the country.
Mr. Chidiebere Ibe, Senior Capacity Development Officer from the African Development Institute, mentioned that the training led to several recommendations for improving public budgeting and public financial management.
One of the recommendations, according to him, is to review and amend the public financial management act to include provisions for more effective public financial management, such as fiscal targets and fiscal rules. This would help the government in creating realistic budgets and better managing the economy.
Ibe urged the country to continue improving public financial management and economic management, and to prioritize staff capacity development for investment.
Mr. Mamadi Dampha, Deputy Permanent Secretary at MoFEA, emphasized the importance of the presence of the stakeholder participants. This demonstrates their commitment to strengthening public finance and management, and ensuring effective and efficient use of public resources for the well-being and welfare of the Gambian people.
