EDITORIAL: Parliament’s concerns about spending valid
Wednesday, July 1, 2020 0:01
By EDITORIAL
Military spending should be guided by sound financial management and oversight practices.
Although we appreciate the long-running tradition of secrecy in military spending, there should be some element of openness because while opacity has its benefits in war, it weakens sound policy making and accountability.
Several countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Burkina Faso, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania, have taken strides to institutionalise transparency in their military expenditures.
Besides, lack of oversight in the manner in which the military budget and arms purchases are decided and controlled bear the risk of higher inefficiency in military spending and questionable purchases, thus adding pressure on already strained public resources.
Like any public expenditure, military spending should be guided by sound financial management and oversight practices.
