All 275 Members of Parliament of Ghana (MPs) are currently in Ho – the Regional capital of the Volta Region for a training workshop on the President Akufo-Addo led government’s budget estimates for the 2021 year.
The budget which was presented to Parliament on Friday March 12, 2021 in accordance with Article 179(1) of the 1992 constitution and Order 140 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the House by Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business with additional temporary responsibility over the Finance Ministry – Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, is expected to be debated and approved by the MPs before the House goes on recess on March 30.
Ahead of the debate the MPs need to have a good understanding of the issues contained in the document. It is for this reason that the workshop has been arranged for all MPs, Clerks to Parliamentary Committees, Research Officers and journalists who cover proceedings in Parliament. It is to enable them have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the budget statement to be able to contribute meaningfully to the deliberations on the floor during the debate which is expected to start next Tuesday.
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Opening the conference on Sunday, Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Honorable Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin who chaired the function emphasized the need for a quality debate on the government’s budget statement as it forms part of the House’s financial control functions and also helps to ensure that appropriate resources are provided to implement government programmes; identify unintended or negative effects of government policy and actions and monitor the meeting of national and international commitments.
“When we perform our oversight and financial control roles sufficiently, the impact is felt throughout society, as resources are distributed more fairly and services such as education and healthcare are delivered more effectively and efficiently,” Speaker Bagbin stated.
By Jeorge Wilson Kingson || ghananewsonline.com.gh
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