By Mike Puia
Gizo
ABOUT 14 Treasury Divisional staff from Western and Choiseul provinces are attending a two-week training in Gizo, Western province.
The training, which was officially opened by the deputy provincial premier, Maloney Lopoto, on Monday promises to enhance the capacity of treasury staff.
The training is conducted under the Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP) of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).
One of the key areas the training focusses on is the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS).
In his opening remarks, Lopoto said the training has improved the performance of their treasury staff since its introduction in the province in 2010.
He said it has led to the province being able to produce its first financial statement (2011/2012).
The deputy premier told training participants that they are part of a crucial training that would help them in their work to be able to perform their duties competently.
He said it will help political leaders and administration to be responsible in managing public resources well.
Western provincial government’s chief planning officer, Walter Salo, said the training is an ongoing programme under the PGSP.
“No, this training is not a respond to any reporting issue in the province. It’s an ongoing programme to capacitate provincial treasurers and accountants,” Salo said.
Besides looking at financial statement production, the IPSAS also looks at issues relating to budgeting and other financial concepts.
Salo said provincial treasurers and accountants need to be regularly updated about the IPSAS.
He said all provincial treasurers and accounting officers must be well versed and report up to the current provincial government financial reporting.
An expert in IPSAS, Momodou Sawaneh, and a staff of the MPGIS, Priscilla Cheka are facilitating the training.
