Ghana's Open Budget Score is up to 54

Accra, Oct. 20, GNA - Ghana's 'open budget score' increased from 42 in 2006 to 54 in 2010, making her the country with the highest score in West Africa and by far higher than the world average of 42.

The Open Budget Survey is compiled and ranked from scores obtained for 92 questions that measure the relative transparency of each country's budget process. These scores constitute the Open Budget Index (OBI), a release from the Accra Office of the World Bank said on Wednesday.

Ghana's OBI increased largely because the Government now publishes a Mid-Year Review; a Year-End Report and an Audit Report. Ghana's score, however, shows that the Government still provides the public with only some information on the Central Government's budget and financial activities during the course of the budget year. This makes it challenging for citizens to hold the Government accountable for its management of the public's money.

Beyond improving the availability and comprehensiveness of key budget documents, there are other ways in which Ghana's budget process could be made more open.

These include ensuring the existence of a strong Legislature and Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) that provide effective budget oversight, as well as providing greater opportunities for the public to participate in the budget process. According to the Open Budget Survey, budget oversight provided by Ghana's Legislature is inadequate because it does not; have sufficient time to discuss and amend the budget proposal presented to it at the start of the year before the budget is enacted - the legislature receives the budget less than six weeks before the start of the budget year.

Again even though the country holds public hearings to discuss the macroeconomic and fiscal framework and open budget discussions on the individual budgets of Central Government administrative units, the reports on such hearings are not released. According to the Open Budget Survey, budget oversight provided by Ghana's SAI is inadequate because; it does not have sufficient resources to meaningfully exercise its mandate; and it does not issue reports on the follow-up steps taken by the Executive to address audit recommendations.

The Report recommends that Ghana should; improve the comprehensiveness of the Year-End Report and the Executive's Budget "Proposal; publish timely and regular In-Year Reports; Publish a Citizens Budget; Produce and publish a Pre-Budget Statement and Provide opportunities for the public to testify at legislative hearings on the budget for the individual administrative units; and enable the legislature and SAI to provide more effective oversight of the budget. 20 Oct. 10