On Tuesday 2 April, the Minister for Finance and Budgets, Fortunato Ofa Mbo Nchama, oversaw a meeting of the executive which was also attended by the Deputy Minister for the Treasury and State Assets, Milagrosa Obono Angüe, in which they chiefly addressed the Draft Liquidation of the General State Budgets for the 2023 economic period, and the forecasts for the 2024 period, presented by the Director General for Finance and Budgets, Justo Ngomo Nnegue.

According to the information provided by the presenter, it appears that, in general, the execution of this budget was in line with forecasts, with the exception of the investment expenditure item, which led to several interventions focused on determining the reason for the situation that has a negative impact on the primary balance, which went from 13.3% in 2022 to 15.6% in 2023.

In that regard, Milagrosa Obono Angüe explained that the information could have an impact on the Government’s actions on the construction projects for 4 hospitals in the country, the reactivation of the work to the National University Campus in Basupu, the packages of the Corisco and Annobón projects, urban districts and the hospitals of Nsork, Kogo and Mbini, among others.

Following several interventions, the Table finally adopted the budget liquidation. However, on the revenue side, Ofa Mbo pointed to the weak performance in non-oil revenues. In response, he demanded that the directors of Tax and Collection should inject greater energy into these services, pointing out the need to boost the integrity of the tax administration’s technicians, for the benefit of the public purse, reaffirming that inspections are not carried out on their own account, but for the administration.

Ofa Mbo also instructed his staff on the need to hold regular meetings with the Treasury team to discuss liquidation throughout the year, insisting that taxpayers must pay the Treasury everything that is due in a timely manner.

The meeting was also attended by the Vice-Minister for Finance and Budgets, Pedro Abeso Obiang Eyang, the Secretary of State for Finance and Budgets, María Ebiaca Mohete, the Advisor to the Presidency on the Business Climate, Estanislao Don Malavo, the Secretary of State for the Treasury, Crisantos Eyene Bitegue, the General Secretary for Finance, Silvestre Mansiele Bikene, and some Director Generals, among others.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equatorial Guinea: Official Web Page of the Government.

The coordination and programming meeting served to organise and categorise the various papers already in the Senate’s possession, with the aim of assigning them to the corresponding senatorial commissions for their treatment and study, within the dates set for carrying out the work.

Among the documents to be analysed under second reading is the decree adopting measures for the Protection of Minors in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, since our country has been a party to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child since 1993, which establishes that State members undertake to ensure the protection and care necessary for their well-being, taking into account the rights and duties of their parents, guardians or other persons responsible for them before the law, and the Senate Table therefore considers the study of this document to be of maximum importance.

Throughout this week, the Senate Table, chaired by Teresa Efua Asangono, the leader of the institution, will continue with meetings to reschedule the work programme of the Senate, to be implemented during the 2024 period of ordinary sessions, with the aim of classifying and categorising the various files to be assigned to the corresponding commissions for study, analysis and subsequent approval by the Senate Plenary, in the event of that being the decision of the highest body of the Upper Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equatorial Guinea: Official Web Page of the Government.

First, the Prime Minister received the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Anna M. Pont, with whom she discussed the Government’s priorities for the national education sector and the achievements of the United Nations System.

“We had a very fruitful conversation about the kind of support that is desired and current developments in inclusive education and digital education, which are two areas, in particular, where the UN is providing technical support in this country”.

The Head of Administrative Coordination then received for the first time the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Equatorial Guinea, Betty Pamela Wabunoha.

Based on the latest board meeting held by the National Centre for the Computerisation of Public Administration (CNIAGE), and as one of the institutions supporting the Government in digitalisation projects, such as the Ministry for Public Administration, Roka Botey requested them to support technical assistance for the computerisation of the public administration and to work with other ministerial departments to that end.

“It was an opportunity for UNDP to provide support for the sustainable development programme here in Equatorial Guinea. We also talked about various issues, specifically digitalisation, creating an environmental asset for faster support to excess public notices for Equatoguinean citizens, creating transparency and more facilitators for the process”.

This second audience came within the framework of the channelling through CNIAPGE of the digitisation projects drawn up by the Government to avoid duplication of costs, and to take advantage of the investment in all the infrastructure made during the first phase of the project, as the Government of Equatorial Guinea is continuing with its plan to digitise public administration.

The Prime Minister was accompanied in the audiences by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Health and Social Welfare, in addition to the Minister General Secretary and some Director Generals from the Presidency of the Government. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equatorial Guinea: Official Web Page of the Government.

Liberia’s revered international cultural icon, Princess Fatu Gayflor, met with H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., on Tuesday, April 2nd, at the Executive Mansion in Monrovia. She paid a courtesy call to the President to congratulate him on his election and make it known that she fully supports his Government’s agenda on culture and tourism. 

During the meeting, Princess Fatu Gayflor made it clear that she is deeply concerned about the current state of promoting culture in Liberia, and expressed her disappointment with the demolition of the Kendeja Cultural Village years ago, which was supposed to be relocated and rebuilt. She emphasized that more needs to be done to promote the nation’s culture and enhance its tourism industry. 

President Boakai welcomed Madam Gayflor and expressed his appreciation for her efforts in promoting Liberia’s image. 

He underscored the importance of Liberians embracing and taking pride in their culture and urged Princess Fatu Gayflor to continue to champion the advancement of traditional values and practices.

The President assured the gifted Liberian Singer and the Liberian people of his unwavering commitment to uplifting the country’s cultural endowments and boosting its hospitality industry.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.