Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has opined that the Finance Minister cannot take certain expenditure decisions unilaterally without Parliament’s approval.
Even though the minister noted in the 2023 budget that wages and salaries would not increase, he believes otherwise.
During the minister’s mid-year budget review statement, Ato Forson made the case in parliament.
He said: “I am of the view that if the minister of Finance is varying any expenditure line downwards there is the need for parliament to approve it. We know for a fact that the budget was prepared with the note that the government was not going to increase wages and salaries.
“Mr. Speaker, subsequently, government increased salaries and wages. It means that the mid-year review the minister is presenting today will include an increase in the compensation line. He can’t do it unilaterally; parliament will need to give him permission,” he noted.
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta is currently presenting the 2023 mid-year budget review to Parliament on Monday, July 31, 2023.
The presentation of the mid-year budget review statement is conducted in full compliance with the provisions of the Public Financial Management Act 2016, which grants the Minister of Finance the responsibility to present this review of the budget statement on the Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the fiscal year.
This process serves as an important platform through which the government can communicate its economic advancements and developments to both the House and the general public. Furthermore, it offers an opportunity to outline any essential modifications to budgetary allocations and policies, allowing for transparency and accountability in the nation’s financial management and decision-making processes.