September 10, 2015 By Victoria Saffa
According to an Open Budget Survey 2015 report launched yesterday by the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), Sierra Leone tops the open budget index in the sub-region, scoring 52 out of 100, which is higher than the global average score of 45.
BAN officials say the survey result is higher than in 2012 when the country scored 39 out of 100, although the government of Sierra Leone provides the public with limited budget information.
Giving an overview of the survey report, Coordinator of BAN, Abu Bakarr Kamara, said the open budget index report is a global survey that is conducted to assess the transparent nature of countries’ budgets, noting that BAN is the lead organisation for the survey in Sierra Leone.
He said drawing from internationally accepted criteria developed by multilateral organisations, the Open Budget Survey uses 109 indicators to measure budget transparency, and that the indicators are used to assess whether the central government fulfills eight key budget documents available to the public in a timely manner, and whether data contained in these documents are comprehensive and useful.
Kamara said each country is given a score out of 100, which determines its ranking on the open budget index – the world’s only independent and comparative measure of budget transparency.
He said evidence suggests that transparency alone is insufficient to improving governance, as public participation in budgeting could maximise the positive outcomes associated with greater budget transparency.
“To measure public participation, the Open Budget Survey assesses the degree to which the government provides opportunities for the public to engage in budget cycle by the executive, the legislature and the supreme audit institution,” he said. “Since 2012, the government of Sierra Leone increased the availability of the budget information by publishing the citizens budget, improving the comprehensiveness of the enacted budget in year reports and year-end report.”
Kamara, however, pointed out that the government has failed to make progress in making the pre budget statement and mid-year review available to the public, stating that the Open Budget Survey examines the extent to which the legislature and supreme audit institution are able to provide effective oversight of the budget.
These institutions play a critical role, often enshrined in national consultations, planning budget and overseeing their implementation, he said.
He revealed that the legislature does not have a specialised budget research office, adding that the executive budget proposal is not provided to legislators at least three months before the start of the budget year.
Launching the survey report, the Executive Director of Actionaid International Sierra Leone, Mohamed Sillah, said the report is a process geared towards putting pressure on governments to ensure the budget process is open.
He said the budget is a very important document that gives directives on how public money is spent.
“As a country we have made progress but we need to do more. From 39% to 52% is a significant progress but much needs to be done,” said Sillah, noting that such would not cost government anything. “The budget process lacks consultation; it is the most comprehensive document the government needs to improve transparency around the budget.”