Parliament rose on Wednesday to close the first session of the sixth parliament after passing the Appropriation Bill that would authorize the government to spend an amount of GH?36.2 billion from the Consolidated Fund on the 2014 Budget as against GH?31billion for the 2013 Budget.
Since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government took over power in 2009, it has exceeded the appropriation.
The legislature thinks the executive has not been respecting its authority.
In 2009, the government overspent to the tune of GH?300 million, in 2010 it overspent GH?800 million, in 2012 the over-expenditure went further up to GH?1.3 billion, and in 2012 it hit GH?2.7billion.
The government, which maintained some level of fiscal discipline in 2013, did not overspend above the appropriation because there was very little money in government coffers as explained by some minority members.
The Appropriation Bill also provided that GH?6,498,022,790 (GH?6.5 billion) as statutory funds be allocated to the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETfund), National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), Road Fund, retention of IGFS fund and transfer to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) from oil revenue in 2014.
The statutory amount approved by Parliament for 2014 is twice the amount given for 2013.
Parliament asked the Minister of Finance to ensure that the statutory funds were released on time since the funds are committed to various projects and programmes at the district and national levels.
According to Parliament, delays in payment of such funds have been adversely affecting the smooth implementation and completion of such development projects to be undertaken by the fund.
Parliament also approved a request of waiver of custom duties, VAT, EDIF), ECOWAS Levy, Destination Inspection Fees, Withholding Tax Liabilities on Suppliers and Special Import Levy amounting to $35,794,503 in relation to the implementation of the Ghana Dedicated Information System Project Phase II.
The ranking member on the Finance Committee and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, in supporting the motion for the approval of the waiver, said Parliament must be alive to its responsibility and ensure that the huge waiver results in value for money.
?The waiver on the $123.4 million constitutes about 29 percent of the loan amount which is too much,? he said, stressing that Parliament must ask for the list of the items that would be imported and also closely watch the customs officials to ensure that there is indeed value for money.
?We want to sound a caution to the customs officials that parliament will be watching closely their activities in relation to this waiver?.
Parliament is expected to come back from recess on Tuesday, January 28 for a nine-week sitting in the first meeting of the second session.
In his closing remarks, Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, thanked all members of parliament for their cooperation during the last sitting.
He however asked the MPs to resolve during the New Year to offer greater assistance to him to ensure order in the house.
By Thomas Fosu Jnr
