Accra, Ghana – Government expenditure for the first quarter of 2025 hangs in the balance as Parliament fails to approve the Expenditure on Account mandated under Article 180 of the 1992 Constitution.
The stalemate follows the indefinite adjournment of Parliament on Friday, December 18, 2024, by Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, with no sign of progress on the budget proposal.
The impasse has sparked a blame game between the Majority and Minority leadership, each accusing the other of derailing the constitutional process meant to ensure financial continuity during election-related transitions.
Speaking to the press shortly after Parliament’s adjournment, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, criticized the Akufo-Addo-led government for failing to fulfill its constitutional obligation to present the expenditure proposal in advance of appropriation.
“The NPP government has failed to comply with Article 180 of the Constitution to make interim financial provisions for the first quarter of 2025,” he said. “In the spirit of good transition, it was expected that the outgoing President would act in good faith and submit the proposal to Parliament.”
Dr. Forson assured Ghanaians that the incoming NDC government, expected to take office on January 7, 2025, would prioritize the approval of the expenditure plan. “There is no cause for alarm. The Vice President can present the proposal to this House immediately after swearing-in, and Parliament will expedite the process to ensure public servants are not affected,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin, refuted the Minority’s claims, accusing them of obstructing government business since November.
“We are ready to proceed with the Expenditure on Account. It is the lawless NDC Minority that has been obstructing the process,” Afenyo Markin stated during a press conference. “If the Speaker reconvenes Parliament before December 31, we will ensure this important business is addressed.”
The failure to approve the budget raises significant concerns about the government’s ability to meet its financial obligations in the first quarter of 2025, including funding essential public services and ensuring a smooth political transition.
Article 180 of the Constitution requires the government to present an Expenditure on Account when a full Appropriation Act will not take effect by the beginning of the financial year. With less than two weeks left in the year, the absence of a budget casts doubt on Ghana’s fiscal stability heading into 2025.
Observers are urging Parliament to reconvene swiftly to prevent disruptions to public service delivery and maintain confidence in Ghana’s governance processes.
Source: Clement Apologize//parliamentnews360.com
