Ken Ofori-Atta
Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, is expected in Parliament today to lay before the House a supplementary estimate for consideration as part of the mid-year review of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government.
Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who disclosed this, said this would be done pursuant to Article 179 (8) of the Constitution and Standing Order 143.
He made this known last Friday during the presentation of the Business Statement for the 10th Week ending Thursday, July 28, 2022 on the floor of Parliament.
Supplementary estimates set out proposals for amending the government spending the House has previously approved in the main budget, and it is used when the government needs to spend more (or significantly less) money during the financial year than Parliament has agreed, because of new developments.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin continued, “Mr. Speaker, as Hon. Members are aware, whenever a supplementary estimate is introduced into the House, it is done through a motion by the Minister and seconded by a member, and as usual the House is given the opportunity to debate on the Motion.”
“In this regard, debate on the Motion has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 26, 2022. Leadership would conclude debate with their own submissions on the Motion on Wednesday, July 27, 2022,” he indicated.
According to the Deputy Majority Leader, an indication was given earlier that the Finance Minister would present the mid-year review of the Budget Statement only.
“Accordingly, it had been proposed for Hon. Members to make brief comments on the anticipated mid-year Budget Review pursuant to Standing Order 70,” he pinned.
“However, upon further consultation with the Minister responsible for Finance, a firm indication has now been given in respect of a presentation to the House of a Supplementary Estimate alongside a mid-year review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2022 Financial Year,” he noted.
“Having regard to this new development, it is expected that the Finance Minister would lay before Parliament a supplementary estimate,” he stressed, adding that the Business Committee looks forward to a lively, well researched and informed debate on the mid-year review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy and Supplementary Estimates of the Government for the year 2022.
He said in order to afford as many members as possible the opportunity to debate on the mid-year budget review and supplementary estimate, the Committee had proposed that the Chairman and Ranking Member of Finance Committee would be allotted 15 minutes, while Chairpersons of other committees would be given eight minutes.
All other members will be allotted five minutes each, he read, and added that “the Business Committee proposes that the Leadership structures the debate along specified sectors i.e. governance, including security and public safety, finance and the economy generally, energy and other infrastructural sectors, the social sector, local governance as well as youth, sports, tourism and the cultural sectors.”
“This arrangement shall enable a smooth flow of the comments,” Afenyo-Markin, who is also the NPP MP for Effutu in the Central Region, stated.
Extended Sittings
According to him, having regard to the exigencies of the time, the Business Committee had recommended that the “House commences sitting each day at 10:00am prompt and also have extended sittings to ensure that outstanding referrals are considered expeditiously before the House rises sine die.”
“Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, July 28, 2022, the day the House is expected to adjourn sine die, sitting of the House would commence at 9:00am prompt to enable the House to adjourn early,” he concluded.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House