Leader of the opposition in the House, Cassiel Ato Forson, l has stated that the Finance Minister cannot make certain expenditure decisions without getting parliamentary consent.
He claims that the minister went against his word, despite it being stated in the 2023 budget that there would be no pay or salary increases.
When the minister pretended to give the statement for the mid-year budget review, Ato Forson presented the argument on the floor of the legislature.
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.
On Monday, July 31, 2023, the mid-year budget review for 2023 will be presented to Parliament by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
The Budget Statement on the Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the Fiscal Year is being presented in compliance with the Public Financial Management Act 2016’s provisions, which require the Minister of Finance to do so.
It aims to give the administration a platform to inform the House and the public of its economic progress and to lay out any modifications to the budgetary allocations and policies that may be required.
