Accra, March 28, Ghanadot - Soon after the Finance Minister presented the budget statement of the year 2009 to parliament, the minority raised concern over the budget of the president which it said has increased astronomically as compared to the year 2008 under President Kufour.

The minority argued that, about GHC 150 million was spent under the presidency in the last year's budget as compared to this year which is over 200 million Ghana cedis.

The deputy chief of staff, Mr Alex Segbefia has however explained to the media what neccesitated the increment.

According to him, the increase in the seemingly high budget of the presidency is emanated from the increased investment budget of the Millinium Challenge Authority which comes directly under the presidency.

He noted that the Millinium Challenge Authority which is being sponsored by the US government had been placed under the presidency and it would execute a number of projects this year which includes the construction works on the Tetteh-Quarshie- Mallam motorway extension project.

Mr Segbefia who supported his claim with a document gave a break down of the expenditure of the presidency this year.

The document confirmed that, the budget increase has come about as a result of donor funding under investment activity expenses from GHC 53,540,631 in 2008 to GHC 186,505,985 in 2009. This he said accounted for an increment of 249.65% in the budget of the presidency.

He revealed that out of the total GHC 221,364,521 that would be spent by the government this year, the bank of Ghana would provide for GHC 24,839,436 and donor support would cater for the rest.

Maintaining that President Mills would not shift from his position of cutting cost, Mr Segbefia said the Mills administration has abolished certain Ministries and agencies which operate under the Presidency.

Ghanadot