The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning on Tuesday launched a new official website aimed at enhancing e-government, sharing information, and promoting transparency and accountability in the public sector.
The website, www.mofp.gov.ss, was launched under the theme “Availing economic information for transparency, accountability, and public consumption.” At the same function, the finance ministry also inaugurated the Aid Information Management System (AIMS).
Speaking during the ceremony in Juba, Dier Tong Ngor, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning said the website will showcase the work of the key ministry and address gaps in information sharing.
“These two projects will address a gap that has been there for quite a long time in the finance ministry in particular, and I am sure the government agencies in general because I believe a lot of good work is being done by government ministries and agencies but this good work is not being communicated to those concerned and to our stakeholders,” Tong said. “I come from a central banking background and I remember our advisors said we were doing so many things but people did not know because we were not communicating well and putting out the information.”
The minister said that he is now happy because the public will easily access information about the ministry.
“When I came to the finance ministry, I found this issue of communication missing and we brought in a new communication director the first assignment we gave him is that we have to have a credible website where we can share information, especially about the reforms we are undertaking,” he said.
For his part, Angelo Deng Rehan, the undersecretary for planning in the finance ministry, said the launch of the website is important as it will address some of the challenges that the institution faces.
“Previously we had a website that was not so active and the challenge came when our international and internal partners could not access information easily,” he said. “Also, the other challenge we are facing is that when we prepare our budget, there is supposed to be public awareness and participation. So, how does the public participate, and how do we make them aware if the website is not working? That is why it is important to officiate this.”
Meanwhile, Firas Raat, the World Bank Group Country Manager in South Sudan, commended the finance ministry for the launch and said it will help in financial transparency.
“It is a pleasure to be here for the dual launch of the website and AIMS. I must congratulate the ministry and all those who made this vision a reality, particularly UNDP,” he said. “On our side, we commend this initiative because it is fully in line with the goals of financial transparency to make sure that whatever the government is spending and what donors are spending on South Sudan are fully announced, available for people to access and I think the website and AIMS will facilitate the achievement of that goal.”