It is arguably a fact that aside from the law-making functions of every Parliament, the approval of government budget statements and economic policy is yet another very important responsibility or function of Parliament.
Ghana’s Parliament has commenced the debates on the 2024 Budget Statement and economic policy of the country after the Finance Minister’s presentation on Wednesday, November 15 2023.
One major worrying development that has come up amidst the debates on the budget is the failure of most Members of Parliament to be present in the chamber, particularly the Members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament.
Reacting to the absence of most members of the Majority Caucus during the debates on the budget on Tuesday, November 21, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin chastised the Majority Leader, Honorable Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu for such a worrying development happening under his leadership.
The Speaker of Parliament thus attributed the Majority leader’s inability to ensure that Members of his Caucus attend the budget debates to the change of leadership in the New Patriotic Party after its presidential primaries.
According to him the assumption of the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer and leader has led to a gradual shift of ‘loyalty’ from the incumbent, President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Mr Bagbin asserted that it is the ‘shift in allegiances’ which has led the majority of the New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament to abandon their mandates and treat President Akufo-Addo as a “lame duck” president.
Meanwhile, the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has warned that the attrition rate in Parliament may become worse shortly unless political parties take proactive measures to address the situation.
According to Dr Rasheed Draman, the Executive Director of ACEPA political parties seem to prioritize financially affluent individuals over competent Members of Parliament which has contributed to the current state of affairs in Parliament.
“In advanced democracies, there are some seats that you don’t contest a sitting MP because of the wealth of knowledge or experience that he or she brings to the legislative agenda and the fact that the party needs the person to be in the House. Now the party looks at who has a fat wallet and who can win elections for them, even if the person is not going to bring anything to the table when it comes to the work of Parliament”.
Dr Rasheed Draman
The Danger Of Attrition In Parliament On Appropriation
It is important to note that the power of appropriation, which involves allocating funds for government expenditures is solely vested in the legislative branch of government.
In simple terms, the appropriation of funds which involves the authorization and approval of government spending is a major responsibility of Members of Parliament who are the representative of the people.
As such the principle of the “power of the purse” which emphasises that the legislature has the primary authority over government finances requires Parliament to allocate, modify, or reject budget proposals.
It is important to note that the mandate of Parliament over the power of appropriation is hugely undermined in instances where members of Parliament fail to attend debates on the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the country.
It is therefore duty-bound for members of Parliament to actively participate in the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the country as it is very crucial for the proper functioning of the country’s democratic governance.
Thus, the active participation of Members of Parliament in the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy would ensure that decisions related to public finances are well-informed, reflective of public needs, and subject to thorough scrutiny and accountability.
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