begun producing payment vouchers and printing of checks in Nimba and Bong counties.

According to a release from the National Decentralization Implementation Secretariat of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the MFDP produced the first vouchers and printed checks for the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Health at the County Service Centers (CSCs) in Nimba and Bong Counties.

The release notes that similar exercises will be carried out at the CSCs in Margibi and Grand Bassa Counties.

Implementation of the Liberia Decentralization Support Program (LDSP) is funded by the European Union, Swedish Government, USAID, UNMIL and UNDP.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is the coordinator for the Deconcentration program, working in concert with the MFDP, partners and other agencies of government.

“The printing of checks at the county level is part of the County Treasury Framework,” the MFDP revealed.

The County Treasury Framework is a fiscal Deconcentration activity that supports financial transactions to be done exclusively in the counties other than allowing local leaders or technicians to come to Monrovia to engage in financial transactions.

The release quotes the MFDP as disclosing that the budgets for the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Health for fiscal year 2016/2017 have been disaggregated and well-structured in the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS).

According to Romeo D.N. Gbartea, Director of the Fiscal Decentralization Union at the MFDP, the IFMIS will now have the opportunity to engage in transactions of goods and services under the 2016/2017 budget in the indicated counties.

Authorities of the benefiting counties have begun celebrating the effort, describing it as an air of relief from the stress of traveling to Monrovia in pursuit of Vouchers and checks.
LINA PR/BMK/TSS/PTK