Monrovia – FrontPageAfrica has obtained a memo in which some members of the House Ways, Means and Finance Committee have expressed shock over some alterations in the draft national budget approved by them when compared to the printed National Budget.
Report by Henry Karmo [email protected]
The memo reveals how over a million United States dollars allotted to some public health institutions in the approved draft National Budget were diverted to some private health centers and clinics in the printed version of the National Budget.
Representative Thomas Fallah (CDC-District #5), Chairman of the Joint Legislature Budget Committee, claimed to have no knowledge about the changes in the Budget.
In October 15, 2018 Memo, some aggrieved members of the Ways, Means and Finance Committee wrote House Speaker Bhofal Chambers expressing shock and regret about the manner and form in which the entire 2018/2019 budget process was conducted, beginning from the Ways, Means and Finance Committee’s room to the printing into handbill.
“Our cooperation to allow a speedy and timely passage of the National Budget for the FY 2018-2019 was not in any way a support to the level of gross deviation from the draft budget as was printed,” the memo stated.
In the Memo, the lawmakers said they were constrained to inform the Speaker that the Ways, Means and Finance Committee never agreed on the “Budget Committee Working Papers” but the budget law only with an understanding that upon passage of the Budget Law, the “schedule” was to be discussed further with committee because of time.
The post passage additions made to the National Budget as discovered by the lawmakers include African Dream Clinic – US$125,000; Baryata Clinic – US$75,000; St. Francis Health Center, Pleebo – US$300,000; Yorwee Clinic – US$50,000, Ma-Watta Medical and Eye Clinic – US$225,000, summing up to a total of US$775,000.
Also, allocations to E and J Medical Clinic was increased from US$150,000 in the approved draft budget to US$300,000 in the printed National Budget. Sunrise Clinic also got an increment of US$100,000 in the printed National Budget.
According to the Memo, the reduction in the appropriation for the country’s health system was to affect all counties and to facilitate employment of health workers who were on the pool fund incentive scheme, instead they observe that proceeds from the reduction was rather used to increase the appropriation of Montserrado County and other private health centers and clinics that were not included the draft budget.
The Memo: “Honorable Speaker, to our disfavor, the budget shows that one million twenty-five thousand united states dollars, was reallocated to private clinic and health centers with no approval from the committee members.
“The process and action, which is just a tip of the global deviation, disregarded the existence of the Ways, Means, Finance, Committee and plenary, and a misappropriation of the national resources. Such an act should not go without notice and correctness. We therefore seek an urgent meeting with you, the Deputy speaker, and the entire membership of the ways, Means, and Finance Committee to address this matter.”
Members who signed the Memo are Representatives Francis Dopoh, District #3, River-Gee county; Tiparosa Tarpowel District #1 Margibi County; Rosana Schaack District #1 Rivercess County; Julie Wiah District #2, Lofa County; Dr. George Boley District #2, Grand Gedeh County and Joseph Matthew District #3, Gbarpolu County.
Others include Nathaniel Bahnway District #1 Grand Kru County; Mambu Sonnie District #2, Grand Cape Mount County; Matthew Zarzar District #3 Sinoe County; P. Mike Jurry District 1, Grand Bassa County; Hans Barchue District #1 Grand Bassa County; Marvie Cole District #3 Bong County; Mannah Bishop District #2, Bomi County and Dixon Seboa District 16, Montserrado County.