Barring any last-minute changes, Parliament is expected to receive the Appropriation Bill for the first quarter of 2025 from the Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, later this week.
The submission comes after Parliament resumed sittings, following earlier delays caused by prolonged stalemates.
The Appropriation Bill, which outlines planned government expenditures for January to March 2025, will be referred to the Finance Committee for review before moving to the House for debate and approval.
The delay in presenting the Bill during Parliament’s initial sitting on Monday, December 16, 2024, was attributed to the Finance Minister’s ongoing engagements with the transition team following the recently concluded general elections.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Suame MP, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, confirmed the delay, citing the need to facilitate a smooth handover process.
I think the Minister himself will be in charge. But as you know, there’s a role for him to play at the transitions team meeting so if you if you saw, he’s been the the whole day and Mr. Speaker, the meeting is holding him and at the same time, the is also a cabinet meeting at 5 so I am just walking the to inform him that he needs to present it. I guess tomorrow it should be ready or maybe latest day after tomorrow but certainly in the course of the week,” he said.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, deferred the presentation, noting the absence of an authorized representative to present the Bill on the Finance Minister’s behalf.
He assured the House that the Bill would be tabled within the week.
I know the report is ready because I was given a copy to admit for the consideration of the business committee which I did. The challenge we have now is whether the is any authority here to present here for and on behalf of the minister for finance. If the is none, then we could leave it to tomorrow where he himself as you [Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu] indicated will want to be in charge of it. So Honorable Members defer that item and then we move on,” the speaker stated.
The incoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration stands to benefit from this Appropriation Bill, which provides the fiscal framework for sustaining essential government operations in early 2025.
It is expected to enable the NDC to swiftly address fiscal imbalances, stabilize the economy, and lay the groundwork for implementing immediate policy priorities before presenting its first comprehensive budget later in the year.
