This law will regulate the management of revenue especially with reference to the granting of tax incentives so that government can generate more revenue for social services delivery. Tax incentives are presently granted in a discretionary manner and without a cost-benefit analysis. Also, there is no accountability in the tax incentives granted by government does currently not report or publish the tax incentives granted. The law shall require government to publish a statement of its tax expenditure, detailing all tax exemptions, the beneficiaries and revenue forgone in a bid to promote transparency. It shall require producing and publishing annually a cost-benefit analysis on the need to grant tax incentive and hence the public be well-informed on the rationale for granting tax incentives. OGP’s Networking Mechanism is helping government and civil society connect with the expertise they need to support these efforts. Consultations during the NAP Development In February 2014, His Excellency the President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma announced that the Open Government Initiative (OGI) with technical support from the Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit will implement the OGP. A group of 17 Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and 17 Civil Society Organizations were nominated to serve on the Steering Committee chaired by Rt. Rev. Canon Ajayi-Nicol of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone. Weekly Meetings were held since March, 2014 that led to the development of the National Action Plan. Sensitization campaigns were undertaken in March 2014, by the OGI in partnership with the National Federation of Civil Society and Media Organizations in 14 Districts and in the Diaspora (Guinea, Belgium, USA and UK) to gain buy-in on the OGP Process. Consultations were also held in April 2014, in 13 Districts, the Action Plan was validated by His Excellency after incorporation of consultation results. Challenges in the Action Plan development: Mistrust between CSOs and government at the initial stages Misconception versus MCC –OGP Funding Timeframe How it was overcome: The President was committed to the process and gave his assurance; Quick to understand that the grand challenges coincides with the open governance approach already in existence;
This law will regulate the management of revenue especially with reference to the granting of tax incentives so that government can generate more revenue for social services delivery. Tax incentives are presently granted in a discretionary manner and without a cost-benefit analysis. Also, there is no accountability in the tax incentives granted by government does currently not report or publish the tax incentives granted. The law shall require government to publish a statement of its tax expenditure, detailing all tax exemptions, the beneficiaries and revenue forgone in a bid to promote transparency. It shall require producing and publishing annually a cost-benefit analysis on the need to grant tax incentive and hence the public be well-informed on the rationale for granting tax incentives. OGP’s Networking Mechanism is helping government and civil society connect with the expertise they need to support these efforts. Consultations during the NAP Development In February 2014, His Excellency the President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma announced that the Open Government Initiative (OGI) with technical support from the Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit will implement the OGP. A group of 17 Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and 17 Civil Society Organizations were nominated to serve on the Steering Committee chaired by Rt. Rev. Canon Ajayi-Nicol of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone. Weekly Meetings were held since March, 2014 that led to the development of the National Action Plan. Sensitization campaigns were undertaken in March 2014, by the OGI in partnership with the National Federation of Civil Society and Media Organizations in 14 Districts and in the Diaspora (Guinea, Belgium, USA and UK) to gain buy-in on the OGP Process. Consultations were also held in April 2014, in 13 Districts, the Action Plan was validated by His Excellency after incorporation of consultation results. Challenges in the Action Plan development: Mistrust between CSOs and government at the initial stages Misconception –OGP versus MCC Funding Timeframe How it was overcome: The President was committed to the process and gave his assurance; Quick to understand that the grand challenges coincides with the open governance approach already in existence;