Finance Department happy with progress, outcome of reforms

National

By LUKE KAMA
THE Finance Department has undertaken vigorous reforms over the last 24 months to improve prudent and accountable management of public funds, Secretary Dr Ken Ngangan, says.
He told an inter-governmental stakeholder discussion forum on improving and sustaining service delivery in Port Moresby yesterday that prudent and transparent management of public funds was crucial to improving and sustaining service delivery in the country.
“I am impressed to say that many of the reforms instituted by the Department and Ministry of Finance were achieved in the last 24 months.”
Ngangan said one of the remarkable reforms was the rollout of the integrated financial management system (IFMS) to all government agencies and statutory authorities across the country.
“At the beginning of 2015, IFMS rollout has been stalled within the three central agencies of Finance, Treasury and National Planning and there was little sign of progress,” he said.
“But progress has been made and to date, 40 national agencies and four statutory authorities were connected to the IFMS already and by the end of 2017, all national agencies and statutory authorities will be on IFMS.”
Ngangan said IFMS had increased transparency and accountability in the public sector accounting and budgeting, resulting in major efficiencies and more effective public finance management monitoring and reporting by departments, agencies and statutory authorities.
“It strengthened accountability and transparency and improved efficiency, which surely has resulted in major strengthening of service delivery systems to our people right across the country,” he said.
“The sub-national rollout is also progressing well with East New Britain as the pilot province.
“East New Britain finance officer and district finance officers are now active on IFMS.
“The East New Britain government and local level governments will go on live next week.
“This substantial rollout will continue with all provincial and district finance offices scheduled to be on IFMS by middle of next year and all provincial governments and LLGs by middle of 2019.”
Ngangan said the transformation since the days of a stalled and unsuccessful programme two-and-a-half years ago was remarkable.
“Progress had been made by almost all agencies implementing reforms
in management of public funds,” he said.