What we want is Economist in the Ministry of Finance, not a Money keeper

Author: Mayar Mayar Kout

In the course of six years past, we have seen all choices of the President of Republic of south Sudan when it becomes to his appointment of the Ministers in the government southern Sudan as general and specifically, the minister of Ministry of Finance Economic Planning. the president always didn’t apply a good judgment to choose a right person for a job, or professional economist, who can strategize and planning for the nation’s economy, that is what was missing in the past but now Mr. president wants to setup a clear selection criteria that I think should be base on only, those categories a professional economists, someone with ability to planning and career experiences.

In fact, there was a total inconsistence in the president’s approaches since the first formation of the government of southern Sudan .But no one were to blamed for all massive  that we had because the situation was known to everyone in the south Sudan. There were too many militants groups who were ready to rebel against the government of south Sudan. Beside atmosphere internally wasn’t healthy for the president to create more enemies in the south. That why our president was so reluctant in many issues which had requires an immediate invention. President’s hands were tights behind; he had to please anybody   for the sake of the south’s problem. But the things are totally difference the president’s powerful, more than before, two statuses; he was elected by the sizable margin of votes that give president advantage.

Other attribute, the president has nothing to fear for; a south won’t loss anything, there no second Referendum.

Although, there is un-denials factor that’s seemed to scrutinize the president’s character and personality. And those criticism points tend to weakening president’s ability of ruling the nation. One of factors president’s inabilities of making a tough decision, and also the president is unwilling to support any change in his government’s cabinet. Yes, it’s true that the president must be afraid to risk or rush in to any un-safe change to his government and also he fears for the future of the party, all these claims will justify the president’s nervousness. But the calling for change in the cabinet it’s indication of bring in a new energy, skills and experience groups to serve the nation at the same time, you will be  sending  a clear message to the ministers in their respective ministries  that, this   position a recycling ones.

All of the above, analyses, the issues, are those grabs us back of no progress were made in the government of the south since 2005, signing of Naivasha Agreement CPA, but the president is a freeman, all he wants is to put down a clear selections guidelines of candidates and match it up with positions that’s contender is competing for. And here’s what I suggested as criteria, for whomever, the president wants to be minister of Finance and Economic Planning, and the government cabinet.

Qualification that qualify candidate to be a minister in the MFEP,

Applicant must obtain a basic Degree or Masters and PHDs, he will solely be from the field of accounting, economic and planning, and also I advise the president to look for somebody who is teaching in the best major domestic universities or internationally. If this criteria so impossible, go for a better career profession economist with lengthy records of getting a job done. Someone who can understand work-force policies, “business ethic or code of conduct”; finding of such   character will help minister to reform the ministry of finance in the next four years of the president term.

Candidate must be a technicality person, not necessarily be politician because of the complication in this task and it’s requires the president and his fellow politicians not to politicize some ministerial and especially this ministry of finance and economic planning…   all of those needs professional, skills and experience. You must look for someone who can do job rather than getting a person on basis of the regional presentation … etc.

The president must give equal opportunity to all jobs seekers, in   which, there those of south Sudanese whom they studies in western countries must giving the same to compete with domestic graduates. And the reason of this opening is simple because you are looking for the best candidate to do best job in the ministry, beside those groups of Diaspora, they will be assets in our work force- they will help us with a technologies of west in addition to their multi- cultural background.

My last point to close, even though  I am aware, there those groups of politicians whom may absolutely disagree with me , they  usually seize this ministry as opportunity of  getting a wealth, when you held this  institution, so they will always make sure this ministry must got rotating  within a three regions, Bahr Al-Gazal, Equartoria and upper Nile. But rationally this ministry’s a one of amongst security ministerial or supremacy ministry which is requires a vetted candidate, very qualify candidate, who can performance and do better job, by using a profession, skills and experience.

All opinions expressed in this commentary, are solely those of Mayar Mayar Kout

 Political Analyst and columnist: On “the Citizen” news paper, juba, south Sudan

Contact email: shaankout@hotmail.com