Parliament to Oversee Disbursement of Funds to MDAs
By Benjamin S Conteh
On Wednesday, 27th November 2024, in the Well of Parliament, Minority Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo called on the House to monitor and supervise the disbursement of funds appropriated to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Hon. Kargbo highlighted that while Parliament appropriates funds to MDAs, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) disburses the funds at its discretion without adequate oversight from Parliament. He described this as an attack on the authority of Parliament and urged the Parliamentary Committee on Finance to take on the responsibility of monitoring disbursements.
Citing specific examples, Hon. Kargbo pointed out that while Parliament appropriated 10.3 billion leones to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), the ministry received only 20.3 billion leones—a near 100% increase from what was approved. He emphasized that delays in disbursement also negatively impact the value of allocated funds, as some MDAs reportedly do not receive funds on time.
The opposition leader also referred to sections of the budget, highlighting discrepancies in the government’s financial calculations. He referenced paragraph 42, which states that the government’s wage bill takes up an average of 45% of domestic revenue, and paragraph 61, which indicates that debt servicing accounts for 50% of domestic revenue in 2023, projected to rise to 59% by 2025.
According to Hon. Kargbo, the Financial Minister’s calculations were incorrect, noting that the actual domestic revenue allocation to wages and debt servicing stands at 99%, leaving only 1% for other domestic expenditures. He urged the Minister of Finance to address the growing budget deficit, which increased from 2.7 billion leones to 7.5 billion leones within a year a 178% rise.
He also warned that increased bank borrowing could lead to higher interest rates, potentially reaching 40%, which he described as unsustainable and akin to “digging a hole to fill another.”
In response, Hon. Emmerson Sahr Lamin of the ruling party called on opposition MPs to avoid politicizing the budget, arguing that it aims to enhance the welfare of citizens. He also commended the Minister of Finance for compiling the budget documents.
