On April 30, CABRI hosted an online discussion with finance officials on how African countries are responding to the health crisis and managing the fiscal challenges arising from COVID-19. The webinar also provided a platform for public finance officials across the African continent to share and learn how their cross-country peers are managing the limited resource for effective decisions in strategic purchasing of equipment and medicines to address the pandemic.

The agenda was as follows:

• Managing COVID-19 in Africa: Public finance responses | Neil Cole – Executive Secretary | CABRI Secretariat
• Meeting the need for medical supplies of African countries in times of health crisis| Dr. Benjamin Djoudalbaye – Head of Policy and Health Diplomacy | Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
• Managing budgetary pressures in Ghana: The COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan| Evelyn Abena Arthur, Director of Budget Ministry of Finance – Republic of Ghana

Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Professor Kelly Mua Kingsley, Director for Finance Operations of the State, Cameroon, could not join us. However, his presentation is available below. Professor Kingsley’s presentation is on the theme, “Ensuring transparency and accountability: Budget execution and release of funds”.