When will 2009 budget be read?

Accra, Dec. 03, GNA- Parliament on Monday took a forecast into the year 2008 and discussed if the 2009 Budget would be read in November 2008 as previous budgets ahead of the financial year.

The debate was if 2009 Budget prepared in the name of sitting President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor could be presented to Parliament and how the details would be implemented after the term of office of the President expires on January 7, 2009.

Mr. Edward Doe Adjaho, Minority Leader, had raised a question on how a budget prepared by a previous government would be binding on a new administration, and the need to discuss transitional provisions on the issue.

Mr. Adjaho was contributing to the motion to approve the budget estimates for the year 2008, in Parliament on Monday.

Invoking Article 179 and 180 of the 1992 Constitution, Mr Adjaho said it was necessary to put in some transitional arrangements to discuss the policy direction from all the stakeholders for investors to have confidence in the Ghanaian economy.

Article 179 (1) states that; " the President shall cause to be prepared and laid before Parliament at least one month before the end of the financial year, estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the Government of Ghana for the following financial year."

The Government of the ruling New Patriotic Party had for a couple of years, presented the budget before the financial year the budget covers. However, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Deputy Majority Leader, on a point of order said the constitution also made provision for monies to be withdrawn from the state coffers to be expended on state and national activities before Parliament approved a budget.

Article 180 of the 1992 Constitution states that, " where it appears to the President that the Appropriation Act in respect of any financial year will not come into operation by the beginning of that financial year, he may, with prior approval of Parliament, by a resolution, authorize the withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund for the purpose of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on the services of the Government in respect of the period expiring three months from the beginning of the financial year or on the coming into operation of the Act..."

However, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State at Ministry of Finance, said at any rate President would still be President until January 6 2009, and had every right to prepare a budget to be read in November 2008 to cover 2009.