Some members of the public have expressed skepticism over the government’s announcement easing bank cash withdrawal limits, questioning whether commercial banks are implementing the directive allowing customers to access their salaries and savings.

The concerns come after the Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries, Onyoti Adigo, announced that citizens can now withdraw larger amounts of money from commercial banks following last week’s decision by the Economic Cluster to ease long-standing cash withdrawal restrictions.

Speaking during a memorial service for the late former Speaker of the Upper Nile State Legislative Assembly, Joseph Deng Faraj, at Simba Square in Juba, Onyoti said the government had increased the withdrawal limit to 10 million South Sudanese Pounds and was committed to ensuring that citizens are no longer denied access to their own money.

“We don’t want anyone to be denied access to their money again,” the minister said, adding that customers should be able to withdraw funds for essential needs such as healthcare and education.

However, callers to Eye Radio‘s Dawn Show said the situation at commercial banks had not changed.

A caller from Wau, David Magok, questioned which banks were implementing the directive, saying Kush Bank, Cooperative Bank and Ivory Bank in the town still lacked cash.

“If the money has been in the banks, why were people not allowed to withdraw it before?” he asked.

Another caller, identified only as Julia, said some banks continued to issue only between 10,000 and 20,000 South Sudanese Pounds per customer.

“People spend more on transport to reach the bank than the amount they receive,” she said.

The Economic Cluster approved the lifting of cash withdrawal restrictions last week following years of complaints from civil servants, businesses and other account holders who have struggled to access their salaries and personal savings because of the country’s prolonged liquidity crisis.