The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has vowed to ensure the Legislature and the Judiciary are adequately resourced to function effectively to offer the checks and balances expected of them.
He re-emphasized that due to the composition of the 8th Parliament where both the Majority and the Minority have 137 seats appease and a Speaker who is not from the Governing party, it is properly positioned not to allow itself to be bullied into playing second fiddle to the Executive.
According to him, the Legislature and the Judiciary are both arms of Government and must be treated as such.
“Enough provision must be made to enable the two arms of Government to function effectively and offer the checks and balances that are expected of them. Holding back on our budgetary requirements amounts to preventing Parliament and the Judiciary from carrying out their mandate as provided for in the Constitution,” he indicated.
The Speaker made the comment in his opening address at the post Budget Workshop for Members of Parliament on the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2022 financial year held at the Volta Serene Hotel in the Volta Region over the weekend.
In line with the request for budget equity, the Speaker said for starters, the Parliament Service Board is proposing an allocation of 2% each of the total revenue of the state to the Legislature and the Judiciary for the 2022 financial year, leaving the remaining 96% under the purview of the Executive arm of Government.
“Is it too much to ask for two Cedis from every Hundred Cedis that we have authorized the Executive to mobilize from the good people and assets of Ghana to strengthen Parliament to be effective and efficient in the performance of its role, function and duties?” the Speaker quizzed rhetorically.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin noted that was imperative for the current Parliament to put its best foot forward in all its dealings since the citizens have become deeply aware and interested in the work of Parliament and its leaders because of the ease of access to information.
He said, “We have been clothed with enough powers to approve or not to approve budget statements depending on our assessment of its relevance and value. As we do this, let us keep in mind what Dave Ramsey, the American radio presenter said: “You must gain control over your finances, or the lack of it will forever control you!”
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
