Mogadishu – Jafar Ahmed, the Director of Revenue at Somalia’s Ministry of Finance, has tendered his resignation, amid concerns over alleged corruption practices and favoritism in the Ministry’s staff recruitment process.
While Mr. Ahmed officially stated personal reasons for his departure, however, credible sources told Horn Examiner that his resignation is directly linked to the recent decision to increase tariffs on imported goods, a move he warned would have detrimental effects on the general public and businesses alike.
The decision to step down reflects his opposition to the Ministry’s approach in this matter, two government officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
In addition to the tariff controversy, officials also say that Mr. Ahmed’s exit comes just a few days after he has also expressed concerns regarding the competence of recently appointed personnel responsible for overseeing revenue generation from key sources, such as Customs at the Airport and the Mogadishu Port.
Leading up to his resignation, he has reportedly raised his concerns about the lack of expertise among the new employees with his superiors which had further added to his frustration and sense of disillusionment with the Ministry.
As a result of controversies surrounding the new staff hiring process, other experienced senior employees left in protest in recent days.
Meanwhile, the resignation of the finance official has sparked discussions about the state of governance and corruption within Somalia’s public institutions, at a time the country strives to meet the requirements for the much-anticipated debt relief.
The Ministry of Finance has not yet commented on Mr. Ahmed’s resignation. However, this development marks a new challenge which casts doubt on its integrity and its capacity to foster economic growth and development.
Despite facing allegations of corruption within his government amid worries over the potential implications it could have on the country’s efforts for qualifying for debt relief, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has shifted the blame onto the Puntland leadership for the challenges encountered in the debt forgiveness, warning that the regional state would bear the responsibility if the process fails.
These remarks have surfaced on the backdrop of mounting criticism over poor performance by his government, which is approaching its one-year anniversary mark since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud came to power.
We, at the Horn Examiner, are continuously striving to improve our reporting, and we genuinely appreciate your feedback.
We invite you to share your thoughts on what you enjoyed and any areas where we can further enhance our work.
Please feel free to send your tips to: editor@hornexaminer.com.
Your feedback will be highly appreciated!
Facebook Comments