South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
A South Sudanese economist, Baak Chan Yak, proposed strategic measures on Monday to tackle the nation’s persistent cash shortage.
This follows a report from the Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Marial Dongrin Ater, who stated a few weeks ago that the country is facing a shortage of South Sudanese pounds.
This shortage has severely impacted the economy and placed the government in a state of uncertainty, he said.
Chan, the country’s economic commentator, urged the Minister of Finance to increase the supply of cash through coordinated efforts between commercial banks and the central bank.
He stressed the need to optimise cash reserves and ensure timely replenishment of ATMs and branches.
“To effectively resolve the ongoing cash shortage crisis, I recommend implementing the following strategic measures: Improve Cash Flow Planning,” Chan said in a statement seen by the Dawn on Monday.
“Conduct comprehensive forecasting to anticipate cash demand and prevent shortages, and encourage banks to adopt real-time monitoring systems for cash flow management.”
He suggested that the Finance Ministry should strengthen banking infrastructure, including investing in modern cash handling and transportation systems to increase efficiency.
Chan also recommended that the ministry expand digital financial services to reduce reliance on physical cash.
“Policy and Regulatory Support: Implement policies that incentivise cashless transactions, reducing pressure on physical cash reserves and facilitating easier access to digital banking and mobile payment platforms,” he said.
He stressed the need to partner with private logistics companies to secure efficient cash transportation and promote public awareness of digital payments as a safe alternative.
“Address Underlying Economic Factors: Stabilise the economy by implementing fiscal policies that boost investor confidence and monitor and control inflation to prevent erosion of cash value.”
He believes the implementation of these measures will help stabilise cash availability, improve financial system resilience, and foster confidence among the public and stakeholders.
