Component Of The eGhana Project

The World Bank, UK Department for International Development, the Danish International Development Assistance and the Delegation of the European Union carried out a joint implementation support mission of Component 4 (GIFMIS) of the eGhana project in Ghana during the period May 20 – 23, 2013.

The mission visited the project site at the Controller and Accountant General s Department (CAGD), as well as two of the rolled-out sites – Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development and the Ministry of Education in Accra to see the progress of implementation of the Accounting/Financial Reporting aspects of GIFMIS. Meetings were held with various officials from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) including the CAGD, Budget Division, key officials (including the Chief Directors) from the roll-out sites visited, and the GIFMIS Project management and implementation teams. The mission reviewed progress achieved so far against agreed milestones and provided technical implementation support to the Government of Ghana (GoG) stakeholders and the project management team. The list of persons met during the mission is attached as Annex-1.

The mission wishes to record its appreciation for the assistance, cooperation and courtesy extended to it by all the persons met and, in particular the Controller and Accountant General, the GIFMIS project team, and all other officials met. This aide memoire sets out the mission s findings, agreements reached, and recommendations, which were discussed at the wrap-up meeting held on May 31, 2013, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and supported by the Heads of Missions of the GIFMIS Participating Financing Agencies/organizations.

II.????????????KEY PROJECT DATA

ACHIEVEMENT OF DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES?
The?overarching development objective?of GIFMIS is to improve the effectiveness of service delivery and the allocation of scarce resources, using the new tools and processes resulting from the GIFMIS, and assure an accountable, more effective, and transparent government.

The GIFMIS is expected to: (a) build capacity to improve accuracy, comprehensiveness, reliability, and timeliness of financial and fiscal reporting at all levels government; (b) improve pubic financial management, accountability, and transparency commensurate with international standards and under Treasury Single Account principles; (c) enhance the capacity of government officials and budget managers to use credible financial information for better and informed decision-making; and (d) facilitate oversight of the use of public monies, and increase the national and international credibility of government s financial statements. These fall into two broad areas: (i)fiscal and budget management controls?under the leadership of the Budget Director at MoFEP; and (ii)?financial management, accounting and reporting controls?primarily under the control of the CAGD but including the strengthening of the internal management of MDAs, MMDAs and the Internal Audit function.

IMPLEMENTATION STATUS, PROSPECTS, AND PLANNING
Based on satisfactory progress achieved against milestones in the various components, overall project implementation progress has been rated as?Satisfactory.?However, since implementation issues raised against mostly component 2 activities, which have a direct nexus to component 3, remain outstanding PFM Business Processes and Control Systems with key policy milestones in the areas of cash management, legal framework, budget reforms and payroll remaining outstanding but critical to the overall success and sustainability of PFM reforms that the project supports,,?the mission reiterates its prior recommendations for a committed focus on strategic segments (SSs) within the defined component. These are sub-groups of activities tasked with achieving key PFM outcomes. Assessment relative to project outcomes The role of the M&E Unit in coordinating analysis of performance relative to outcomes is discussed under Component 3. is critical to alert management to weak progress against project objectives and expected outcomes–particularly those identified as priority in the preceding AM Action Matrix. Strategic segments 1 and 2 are discussed below under component 1; the other four are under component 2.