Parliament in Accra hosted a three-day workshop to equip MPs for the 2025 Budget scrutiny. Speaker Alban Bagbin emphasized the importance of understanding the budget’s complexities and its role in national development. The workshop aims to enhance critical engagement and informed debate among MPs. Finance Minister Dr. Forson outlined the budget’s purpose in revitalizing Ghana’s economy, despite existing challenges.
On Saturday, Parliament commenced a three-day post-budget workshop in Accra aimed at equipping Members of Parliament (MPs) with essential tools to scrutinize the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin highlighted the national budget’s significance, describing it as a critical policy instrument that delineates governmental priorities and national development strategies.
The Speaker acknowledged the budget’s complexity, which could hinder understanding among citizens and MPs alike. The workshop’s objective is to empower MPs to better critique the budget, pose pertinent questions, evaluate trade-offs, and comprehend the long-term impacts of policy decisions. He encouraged active participation and inquiry to enhance their understanding.
Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, remarked that the Budget Statement represents a pivotal policy document. He emphasized that it outlines fiscal policies reflecting national aspirations and priorities, urging critical engagement and evidence-based analysis in examining it.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga stressed the workshop’s importance in helping MPs grasp policy statements and financial estimations, asserting their duty to approve or reject the budget in alignment with national development priorities. He urged the Majority Caucus to ensure compatibility with the government’s ‘Reset Ghana’ agenda, aimed at revitalizing the economy.
Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin advocated for continuous learning within parliamentary governance, emphasizing the necessity of capacity-building for effective budget debates. He pointed out that discrepancies in expenditures must be questioned, thus underscoring the value of being well-informed during discussions.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson characterized the workshop as crucial for preparing for the budget’s assessment prior to approval. He reiterated that the 2025 budget is designed to “reset the Ghanaian economy for the people of Ghana.” The workshop’s primary purpose was to equip MPs and Senior Officers of the Parliamentary Service with the necessary skills for scrutinizing the budget in the fiscal year ahead.
The annual post-budget workshop aimed to enhance MPs’ insights into the budget, ensuring effective oversight of governmental policies. Expected outcomes include quality deliberations of the budget statement and related legislation, culminating in the Appropriation Act for 2025. The sessions included topics on macroeconomic frameworks, sector-specific details, taxation, and public sector debt management.
Despite recognizing economic challenges, Dr. Forson affirmed that innovative strategies are in place to address these issues, asserting the government’s commitment to responsible governance. The 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy was presented by Dr. Forson on March 11, 2025, under the theme: “Resetting Ghana for the Economy We Want.”
The post-budget workshop held by Parliament in Accra is aimed at empowering MPs with essential skills to scrutinize the 2025 Budget Statement. Speaker Alban Bagbin and other key officials emphasized the importance of critical engagement and informed discussions to ensure that fiscal policies reflect Ghanaians’ aspirations. The workshop’s goal is to bolster parliamentary oversight in support of a revitalized national economy, showcasing a commitment to transparent governance despite current economic challenges.
Original Source: www.ghanabusinessnews.com
