MPs contemplate
Budget Act
Accra (Greater Accra)
19 November 2002 - Some Members of Parliament (MPs) on Monday, stressed the
need for a Budget Act to enable legislators make inputs in the preparation of
the national budget.
Under the current
constitutional dispensation, Parliament only approves or rejects a budget and
cannot increase proposed expenditure. This was one of the decisions by over
twenty-five members of the Public Account, Finance, Local Government and Gender
and Children Committees at a seminar on "NEPAD and the Budget" at
Green Hill in Accra.
They did not indicate
whether the bill would be sponsored by a private member or by government. They
dwelt on the Ugandan budgetary system where the Budget Act directs that the executive
present proposals to Parliament for inputs before the final draft was brought
back to the house for approval. The legislators said that would ensure more
participation in drawing the budget and promote public monitoring of
expenditure.
According to them, MPs
who were the representatives of the people could help direct the budget to fall
in line with the objectives of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) and
NEPAD. The members called for the strengthening of the various Parliamentary Committees
through the allocations of resources for their activities.
They said it was
unthinkable for a Parliamentary Committee to be looking around for sponsorship
for its programmes since such actions would put limitations on their
discretionary powers.
On NEPAD and the GPRS,
the lawmakers called for a study to know popular opinion about the programmes. They
called for the creation of a NEPAD Committee in Parliament and a national
Committee to coordinate activities on the programme.
The Members said the
success or otherwise of the GPRS and NEPAD would depend on the strength of
constitutional bodies and other organs charged to promote macro economic
stability, health, gender, infrastructure and other vital services.
GRi…/
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