Parliament on Monday took a forecast into the year 2008 and discussed if the 2009 Budget would be read in November 2008 as previous
budgets ahead of the financial year.
In issue was whether the 2009 Budget, if prepared in the name of the sitting President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor could be presented to Parliament and how the details would be implemented after the term of office of the President expires on January 7, 2009.
Mr. Edward Doe Adjaho, Minority Leader, had raised a question on how a budget prepared by a previous government would be binding on a new administration, and the need to discuss transitional provisions on the issue.
Mr. Adjaho was contributing to a motion to approve the budget estimates for the year 2008.
Invoking Article 179 and 180 of the 1992 Constitution, Mr Adjaho said it was necessary to put in some transitional arrangements to discuss the policy direction from all the stakeholders for investors to have confidence in the Ghanaian economy.
Article 179 (1) states that; "the President shall cause to be prepared and laid before Parliament at least one month before the end of the financial year, estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the Government of Ghana for the following financial year."
The Government of the ruling New Patriotic Party had for a couple of years, presented the budget ahead of the financial year.
However, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Deputy Majority Leader, on a point of order said the Constitution also made provision for monies to be withdrawn from the state coffers to be expended on state and national activities before Parliament approved a budget.
Article 180 of the 1992 Constitution states that, "where it appears to the President that the Appropriation Act in respect of any financial year will not come into operation by the beginning of that financial year, he may, with prior approval of Parliament, by a resolution, authorize the withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund for the purpose of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on the services of the Government in respect of the period expiring three months from the beginning of the financial year or on the coming into operation of the Act..."
However, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State at Ministry of Finance, said at any rate the President would still be President until January 6 2009, and had every right to prepare a budget to be read in November 2008 to cover 2009.
Source: GNA
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
Boeing at “crossroads” ahead of crucial strike vote
55 seconds -
Vacant seats controversy: NPP MPs commended for ‘maturity’ amid NDC ‘provocation’
6 mins -
NSMQ24: KETASCO ‘mows’ Motown, leaves Mpraeso SHS behind to secure semi-final slot
11 mins -
Nigeria drops charges against Binance cryptocurrency boss
11 mins -
Finance Ministry ranked as most fiscally reckless public institution in Ghana
16 mins -
Ghana lost over GH₵4.9bn to financial irregularities in 2023 – IMANI Africa
18 mins -
Bawumia will provide free duty on vehicles for nurses – Napo
36 mins -
Intra Africa trade key to Ghana’s economic recovery – Finance Minister
55 mins -
Weta Rice Farmers Association launched to revolutionize rice farming in Ketu North
57 mins -
Shalimar Abbiusi appointed electoral journalist for AU elections
1 hour -
Supreme Court Judge Justice Tanko Amadu commends NIC for public education
1 hour -
Energy Ministry requests suspension of bill merging ECG-NEDCo
1 hour -
7th Galien Africa Forum kicks off in Dakar, focusing on youth innovations in climate and health solutions
2 hours -
NDC campaign committee on mining confident policies will transform small-scale mining
2 hours -
55 coalitions want gov’t to clear family planning commodities stuck at Tema Port
2 hours