Walter Wilson Nana
16 May 2008
The authorities of the University of Buea, UB, are seeking new ways to develop a better framework for their budgetary execution and control.
At a workshop on financial management that took place in UB recently, Southwest Finance Controller, Ernest Elema Bokandjo, told the Finance Department of UB and stakeholders that the state's financial constitution has changed.
According to him, the new text signed in December 2007 brings out many changes, which include increasing the powers of the vote holders who have now become the authorising officers. He said the new text has also brought flexibility to the management of state budget.
Bokandjo explained that stores accountants are no longer accountants in the Cameroonian financial management systems. "Stores accountants are now store keepers, which means the power to control the effectiveness of supplies, the power to control the regularity of documents are no longer the responsibilities of stores accountants as was the case with the old system. The powers are now vested on the authorising officer," he noted.
The Southwest Treasurer General, Martin Ojong, highlighted the accounting principles recently put in place by the Ministry of Finance, while entreating UB officials to make their financial operations better. "The Accounting Department of UB is carrying out its activities in strict respect of all the rules and regulations of the art. UB should continue in the same good direction and produce better results," he said.
UB's Accounting Officer, Mrs Lydia Etumbe Egbe, found the workshop a learning exercise for her collaborators. "It will certainly deliver fresh knowledge to those already in the service. Until the new finance law in Cameroon became operational, there have been instances of speculation within the working style of the staff.
Now that the authorities concerned have explained the new direction to take and how to execute the new budgetary operations, my collaborators will be better equipped to take on their responsibilities."
On his part, Prof. Vincent Titanji, UB Vice-Chancellor, said the workshop is an annual issue in UB with the aim of preparing all the officers involved in the management of the varsity's budget on how to work efficiently, transparently and for the benefit of the university.
Titanji said though the finance department of UB is already working very well, he still expects better output and for them to update their knowledge on the changing trends and innovations in the laws and rules governing financial management in Cameroon.
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