A group photograph of the participants
Budget Analysts and Officers in the various district assemblies have been called upon to be innovative in helping the assemblies raise money to fund programmes and projects.
They have also been urged not to rely solely on building operating permits and property rates as sources of revenue, but focus on modern and electronic revenue mobilization schemes.
Head of Fiscal Decentralization Unit of the Ministry of Finance, Akua Aniniwa Owusu-Asamoah, made the call at a two-day workshop for budget analysts and officers in the Western Region.
They were to among other things, plan on how ethical, professional, efficient and responsiveness they could be to help cut fiscal excesses in the assemblies.
“Ghana is now under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme so there is the need for pragmatic approaches and innovative solutions to help the country get back on track economically in a more appreciable manner”, she added.
She described the budget analysts as strategic architects of the assemblies tasked to advise the chief executives officers on spending, propose better strategies for procurement, identify new revenue sources, and other potentials to help the assemblies develop.
She advised the officers to change their attitudes towards data collection and analysis adding, “start the process early, collaborate with other sectors and departments within and out of the assembly for effective deliverables.
Kirk Mensah, the Western Regional Director for the Controller and Accountant Department called on the budget analysts to be abreast with the financial and legal framework among other public sector financial management.
Daniel Ofosu-Adjei, the Western Regional Budget Analyst said the IMF programme coupled with other economic indicators mandates budget analysts and officers to ensure prudent resource allocation and usage for the betterment of all.
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah said the growth of the private sector will lead to the growth of the local economy and the country at large.
He urged the assemblies to closely work with businesses for the common good of the populace.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi