Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has canceled a decree dismembering the ministry of finance, newly-appointed acting minister Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal said on Monday.
Under the decree, three core functional areas of the Ministry of Finance —revenue, customs, and treasury and budget—would be carved out as independent units, reporting directly to the President’s Office completely bypassing the minister of finance and deputy minister.
The move was criticized by lawmakers and top US diplomat for South Asia, Alice Wells, who said it was “eviscerating and weakening” the ministry.
Arghandiwal told a press conference that the president issued a new decree on Sunday, restoring authorities in the finance ministry.
