PHOTO: British Amb. Nell Bradley and others at the project launch
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Integrity Watch-Liberia with funding from the British Embassy in Monrovia has launched a project aimed at educating and encouraging citizens’ participation in the budget process in the country.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Executive Director of Integrity Watch Liberia, Herold Aidoo disclosed that Liberia has dropped considerably in the international index of open budget initiative.
He promised to encourage citizens’ participation in the budget process so as to ensure that fund allotted are for the public good but not for politicians selfish motives.
Harold Aidoo
According to him, the support of the British embassy’s support for the Integrity Watch-Liberia on the budget has prompted the budget committee at the legislature to invite the CSOs for the first time to the budget hearing in Liberia
In remarks, the British Ambassador, Nell Bradley, said it is important for democracy to flourish with transparency and open budget in the country.
Amb. Nell Bradley
He thanked the Integrity Watch-Liberia for initiating the project aimed at encouraging citizens’ participation in the budget process in the country.
According to him, the British Embassy welcomed the initiative by the Integrity Watch-Liberia for the project aimed at encouraging citizens’ participation in the budget process
For her part, the Coordinator of Non States Actors on the Budget Sector, Carolyn Myers-Zoduah, who spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, assured the CSOs of the government’s commitment in ensuring citizens’ participation in the budget process.
She said it is the government’s intention to make sure that the proposed national budget addresses the many challenges in the country.
The program, which was held under the theme: “Promoting Citizens’ Participation in the Budget Process,” brought together representatives 20 civil society organizations from all over the country.