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Bagbin proposes
constitution amendment to allow Parliament more say in
budget drafting
Accra, March 20, Ghanadot/GNA – Mr. Alban Bagbin, Minority
leader last night called for a Constitutional amendment that
would give Parliament the mandate to participate more
effectively in the drafting stage of the budget.
He also called for the establishment of a budget office that
would require legislative backing, to offer requisite
analysis and alternatives on budgeting to achieve national
objectives.
Mr. Bagbin made the call at a two-day workshop on
strengthening public accountability through improved media
understanding of the budgetary process for senior journalist
drawn from the Ghana News Agency, the Ghanaian Times and the
Daily Graphic.
The workshop is being organised by the Ghana Journalist
Association, World Bank and KAB Governance Consult, a
Non-Governmental Organisation.
Mr Bagbin said there was the need to strengthen the
institutional capacity of parliament to effectively monitor
the budget and the issues of good governance and the
promotion of democratic principles.
He referred to Parliament’s Enhanced Strategic Plan,
Objective 3 (2), which states: “Strengthen parliament’s
significance in budget-making, approval and oversight”.
The Minority leaders said the improvement in access to
budget information would require the review and passage of
the Right to Information Bill as well as an amendment of the
standing orders to allow Oversight Committee of Parliament
to set their own agenda on issues to investigate.
He suggested the autonomy of the Attorney-General and the
building of a strong relationship with Parliament while
structures were introduced to enforce and follow up reports
of the Public Account Committee.
Mr. Bagbin said one way in which political parties could
receive state funding could be the employment of research
officers to support Parliament.
He explained that in that case the institutional capacities
of Parliament should be strengthened to enable
parliamentarians to effectively monitor their role
especially on budgets and government policies.
Dr. Samuel Ashong, a research fellow of the Centre of Policy
Analysis, who spoke on macro-economic indicators said
Ghana’s achievement of macro-economic stability has created
conducive environment for investment and businesses to
thrive.
Mr. Philip Buabeng, Principal, National Banking College said
the establishment of the Monetary Policy Committee has
guided the Bank of Ghana to keep inflation and money supply
in control.
GNA
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