By Politico Staff writer
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has approved the sum of 2.69 Billion Leones for the National Authorizing Office (NAO) to continue its activities in 2022. The approval was supported by the Civil Society Organisations present during the budget hearing after a presentation of the agency’s past activities during the Financial Years 2020 and 2021.
The National Director of Budget in the MoF, Tasima Jah, commended the NAO over the utilization of the EU funds by ensuring that projects and programmes were implemented within the time frame.
However, he reminded them that the EDF Programme was slated to conclude in 2022; therefore, they should collaborate with the Ministry of Planningand Economic Development to support them build the Common Border Post to strengthen trade relations between Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Jah said that the MoF gave the NAO more than what they budgeted for in 2020 and had already received 50% of their budget for 2021.
In his statement, the Director of NAO, Ambrose James said the 2.69 Billion Leones projection for FY2022 is to aid with the EDF funding cycle within the four thematic areas: Education, Agriculture, Governance and Infrastructure.
He highlighted the key deliverables for FY2022 which are to be completed and formally commissioned: Bandajuma-Liberia highway, the Moyamba Junction to Moyamba Town road, the Mabang and Magbele bridges etc.
Speaking on the successes of the agency in the 2020/2021 financial year, the director said they are at a 95% completion rate with the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 100 Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in Bo, Bombali, Port Loko, and Kenema districts with 90% completion of the Bandajuma-Liberia highway, Moyamba Junction-Moyamba Town road and bridges; the implementation of Sixty Million Euros (€60 M) finance agreement for Jobs and Growth programmes in higher education and agriculture.
In addition, James stated NAO’s objective is to strengthen education systems management, improve primary school teaching and learning and improve management and delivery of technical and vocational education.
He ended by stating that the NAO has supported the governance sector with a total of €27 Million on capacity building for parliamentary staff, nationwide review of the Civil Service Code, the official launch of the National Electoral Commission and validation of the draft Public Service Policy.
The NAO was created as a requirement for the partnership agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and the European Union (EU) to serve as the principal management and execution agency within the framework of the co-operation between EU member states and the 78 ACP countries for EDF funding and EU technical dialogue.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (27/09/21)
