Puntland govt to institute new public finance system

[sheekh-Farax-zero]

BOSSASO, Somalia Sep 27 (Garowe Online) - The United Nations is assisting Somalia's Puntland State government institute a better public finance management system using modern technology, Radio Garowe reports.

A training seminar began this week in the Gulf of Aden port city of Bossaso, Puntland's commercial capital, with Ministry of Finance workers benefiting from the program.

Puntland Finance Minister Farah Ali Jama told the VOA Somali Service that Ministry employees are being trained to use the new computerized public finance system, with the assistance of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

"This is a new system using modern technology to improve accountability standards," the Finance Minister said.

He noted that the Ministry's regional offices will be using the new computerized system to keep track of the government's revenue and expenditure and to avoid the mismanagement of funds.

Puntland's government has been using the same paper system since the state government was established in 1998. Ministry of Finance sources say the paper system is "outdated" and does not prevent corruption.

Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed "Farole," who became Puntland's president in the democratic election of Jan. 2009, campaigned on a platform of change and the new public finance system is part of the changes the Farole administration has enacted in Puntland.

Source: Garowe Online

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