JUBA, OCTOBER 4, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Wednesday called on the newly-appointed central bank governor James Alic Garang, his deputies and the finance minister to work towards fixing the country’s fragile economy.
In several presidential decrees on Monday night, Kiir appointed Alic as the new finance minister replacing Johny Ohisa. He also appointed Samuel Yanga Mikaya as the first deputy governor while appointing Nyiel Gordon Kuol as the second deputy governor.
The three officials were sworn into office on Wednesday along with Chairperson of Civil Serviced Julia Aker Duany. Kiir speaking during the swearing ceremony called on the new officials to work together to address the problems hunting South Sudan economy.
“President Kiir has urged the newly appointed officials to join hands and address the shortfalls in the economy in order to improve the livelihood of the people,” the presidential press unit quoted Kiir as saying.
The statement also quoted presidential affairs minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin as describing the appointment of Alic as central governor as “strategic” in line with what he said is a government “plan” to address the economic crisis.
‘MODERN CENTRAL BANK’
Speaking during a reception ceremony organized at the central bank, Alic pledged to work in a transparent manner with his colleagues.
“As a management, we will always collaborate in the interest of advancing the mandate of this institution as we look forward. I pledge that along with my team, we are going to empathize with an element of running a modern Central Bank,” he stated.
“Modern bank is underlined by a number of key pillars, and one of those were already mentioned, by my colleague, the increase of transparency to whatever we do as a bank, along that, will be the need to have an effective communication.
“The last point which is not here at the bank but also occurred across the board is element of seeking greater autonomy,” he added.