Parliament approves GHc10.9bn for first quarter of 2017 

Parliament has approved 10.9 billion Ghana cedis as expenditure in advance of Appropriation to finance government operations for the first quarter of 2017 financial year.  

This is in accordance with Article 180 of the 1992 Constitution.   

Presenting the report of the Finance Committee for the approval of the three months budget, the Chairman of the Committee, James Avedzi said the decision to present only the budget for the 1st of January to March, 2017 period is due to the presidential and parliamentary elections.   

Unlike the usual oral presentation of the annual budget by the Finance Minister, the first quarter expenditure in advance of appropriation was laid on the Floor and referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report. 

The Chairman, James Avedzi said the request is to enable government to withdraw monies from the consolidated fund to meet its urgent and statutory expenses for the first three months pending the approval of an Appropriation Act for the 2017 financial year.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben South and Member on the Finance Committee was not happy about the items to be catered for in the first quarter budget.

The debate was intense as both sides of the House advanced arguments to support their positions. 

The Minister of Finance, Seth Terkpe, rounded up the debate on the expenditure in advance of Appropriation.

GBC