OHLGS: Tuesday 3- Wednesday 4, September 2024: A delegation from the Malawi Accountant General’s Department has paid a working visit to the Head of the Local Government Service, Ing Dr. Nana Ato Arthur. The purpose of the visit was to study and adopt the best practices of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) as pertains in the Local Government Service of Ghana.
The leader of the delegation and the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Unity in Malawi, Mr. Richard Hara, expressed the appreciation of his team to the Service for the opportunity to share the best practices of GIFMIS in Ghana. He explained that the team sought to gain insights into the implementation of GIFMIS in the Metropolitan, Municipal District Assemblies (MMDAs), the successes, challenges, and lessons learnt from implementing GIFMIS in the Local Government context as well establish networks with key stakeholders in the implementation of GIFMIS.
Ing. Dr. Nana Ato Arthur lauded the delegation for making Ghana their choice of study. He was optimistic the visit would strengthen the relationship between Ghana and Malawi. He assured the delegation that the doors of the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service (OHLGS) and the Local Government Service (LGS) remain opened to them for knowledge sharing at all times.
Dr. Nana Ato Arthur reprised that, Ghana considers GIFMIS as a major reform and its implementation at the MMDAs represents a significant step, a transformative tool towards strengthening and enhancing public financial management at the decentralized level.
The Head of Service used the occasion to walk the delegation through the primary avenues of how GIFMIS was implemented in the MMDAs to ensure the standardized financial procedures of GIFMIS in the MMDAs. He said that aim to improve resource management, streamline budgeting, accounting, and reporting processes to improve reliability and timeliness of fiscal reporting. These measures, according to Dr. Nana Ato Arthur, have helped increased fiscal operations, enhanced transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the management of public funds within the assemblies.
The Head of Service indicated the overall impact of GIFMIS has been very positive and improved service delivery. He however admitted that some challenges such as technical issues on poor internet connectivity, unreliable power supply, and lack of capacity building do exist. He indicated, have impeded the smooth operation of GIFMIS and, outlined some measures Ghana has adopted to address those challenges.
They included the intervention of government, in collaboration with telecom providers, should prioritize in enhancing internet connectivity in rural and remote areas, with the expansion of broadband coverage for a more stable internet connections, investing in alternative energy solutions such as solar power for district assemblies, particularly areas with unreliable electricity for more reliable power supply, capacity building and trainings for officers through Peer Learning and Knowledge Sharing, for district assemblies to share best practices as well as effective stakeholders engagement at all levels.
The leader of the delegation, Mr. Hara, expressed the appreciation of his team to the Head of Service and his management team for the opportunity, the time and the information they shared.