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Friday, March 11, 2016

 MPs angry over 2009 Budget estimate for Parliament
Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot

Accra, March 30, Ghanadot - Members of Parliament (MPs) from both the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of the House have expressed their displeasure over the minimal increase in the 2009 annual budget estimates for Parliament.

The MPs contended that considering the numerous activities that the last parliament could not finish and the new ones that the fifth parliament of the fourth Republic is to embark on, the 1% increment in the 2009 budget estimates as compared with that of 2008 is actually minimal.

Presenting the report of the Special Budget Committee on the 2009 annual budget estimate for parliament, the Majority Leader, Mr. Alban Bagbin, disclosed that the total expenditure in 2008 for Personnel Emoluments and Administration was GH¢ 20,440,200.00 as compared with GH¢17,054,458.00 for 2009, showing a reduction of GH¢3,38,742 or 17%.

However, he explained that the salary related allowance component of the administration expenditure has been detached from the Personnel Emoluments (P.E) and placed under administration in anticipation of the single-spine salary structure.

The majority leader mentioned that the committee was of the view that the over 50% reduction in administration vote for parliament does not commensurate with the increase in the P.E stressing that the P.E budget did not also incorporate recommendations made pursuant to Article 71 of the country’s 1992 constitution.

The majority leader further emphasized that the P.E allocation will therefore be inadequate for the year and parliament will also not be able to discharge most of its activities even with support allocation anticipated from the administration.

Touching on the allocation made for service, the majority leader, who is also the MP for Nadowli West added that the service allocation saw marginal increase from GH¢5,103,996 in 2008 to GH¢5,420,444, representing an increase of GH¢316,448.

He indicated that parliament is primarily a service oriented organization and it is imperative for the legislature to improve on its oversight functions, therefore it is the view of the committee that the amount allocated for service is far inadequate.

With regards to the Power of the Purse, the Majority Leader, hinted that the committee was also not happy about Parliament’s inability to exert its influence on allocations made in the budget in fulfillment of its control of the purse.

“It was the view of members of the committee that the inability of parliament to determine budgetary allocation for various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) undermines parliament’s power of the purse”, he revealed.

The Committee therefore urged the Minister of Finance to appreciate the pivotal role of parliament as a branch of the three arms of government and make appropriate provision for its administration and services, to enable it to function effectively and efficiently.

Ghanadot