The Economic Crisis Management Committee set by President Salva Kiir to find alternative solutions to revive the faltering economy by uncovering opaque business dealings is being blocked from carrying out its mandate.

In August this year, President Salva Kiir issued an order forming economic crisis management committee headed by Vice President for Economic Cluster, Dr. James Wani Igga to manage the country’s deepening economic woes.

The committee was also tasked with responsibility of ensuring transparency and accountability in public financial management system and defect real reform in government’s income generating institutions.

However, on Wednesday last week, Igga revealed that the committee was facing massive resistance within some institutions, including blocking and denial to access data.

“When we talk of reform, corruption is in the heart of reform, transparency and accountability,” Igga said.

“So, corruption will be in our forefront to combat. Indeed, we must reform in order to arrive at the prosperity of our country but it is not an easy task, it is not easy, even you will get a lot of lockage given to our sub-committee,” Igga said.

Earlier in October, the Economic Crisis Management Sub-Committee recommended for the removal of Custom’s Director General after its finding alleging gross financial misappropriation.

Igga was speaking at the launch of Human Development Report and Economic Dialogue by the United Nations Development Organization Wednesday that highlights current issues affecting human development globally such as climate change, COVID-19, poverty as well as corruption.

Christy Ahenkora, UNPD Deputy Resident Representative said the country was in a critical time that needed rules and regulation in place to ensure economic growth promising UNDP’s continuous support to government to achieve new norms and regulations.

“We don’t have a choice, we have to work to balance our development aspiration and protect financial resources –  as the leader of the economic cluster, the responsibility of ensuring economic growth of South Sudan is in a critical moment,” Christy said.