Watchdog welcomes closure of gov’t accounts in commercial banks

JUBA, JANUARY 25^th 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan local civil society watchdog, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has issued a statement welcoming the closure of government accounts in all commercial banks across the world’s youngest country.

On Tuesday, the central bank wrote to all commercial banks asking them to shot down all accounts belonging to various government institutions with immediate effects, just days after issuing ban on use of dollar instead of the local currency.

“…the Bank of South Sudan is hereby directing all commercial banks to close all Bank Accounts of all Central Government Institutions (Ministries& Commissions and State Governments),” the central bank said in a statement seen by Sudans Post on Tuesday.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post this afternoon, CEPO which had called for closure of government accounts in commercial banks to ease accountability hailed the decision as a “long-awaited” move from the government.

“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization congratulates the leadership of the Bank of South Sudan for this remarkable decision.  It is along waited decision inline of taking practical action for fighting corruption,” CEPO said.

“Finally, CEPO is proud that our advocacy on transparency on use of public funds succeeded. This decision helps in dealing with those illegal commercial bank accounts for government institutions that are used for embezzlement of public funds such as personal income tax, office operational cost and other sources of taxes in some of the government institutions that have mandate for generating taxes,” it added.

Yakani who is the Executive Director of CEPO described the move as “a remarkable decision is key step in fighting corruption and CEPO advocated for it for long time including lobbying the leadership of council of states for such decision. Great the leadership of the Bank of South Sudan have taken that responsibility. This decision is also inline on the implementation of the 6th Governors forum resolutions on finance and economic reforms.”

“Directing the commercial banks for closure of the government institutions bank accounts is one thing and the implementation of the directives is another thing. Therefore, CEPO is urging the leadership of the Bank of South Sudan to take extra step on implementing their decision by practical checking the closure of the commercial banks bank accounts. Similar directives were made in the past but not concrete and timely executed. So, this directive on closure of the government institutions bank accounts in the commercial banks require proactive follow up on the execution of the directives,” the activist stressed.

He further urged “the leadership of the bank of South Sudan and Ministry of Finance and planning to be proactive in fighting all forms of finance corruption in the government. The implications of corruption in government institutions constitute inhuman acts that were described by some elements of crimes against humanity.”