Parliament Adjourns Without Approving 2025 Mini-Budget Raising Shutdown Concerns
Ghana faces the possibility of a government shutdown as Parliament adjourned on Friday, December 20, without deliberating on the crucial 2025 mini-budget.
The adjournment came after Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam failed to appear in the chamber for five consecutive days to present the motion, stalling parliamentary proceedings.
The mini-budget, a critical measure designed to ensure government operations continue in the interim until the full 2025 budget is approved, remains in limbo.
Parliament is scheduled to reconvene on January 2, 2025, leaving significant concerns about government functionality at the start of the year.
Opposition Criticism
Speaking to the press, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson criticized the Finance Minister’s absence and questioned the outgoing government’s handling of the transition period.
“In the spirit of a good transition, it is expected that the outgoing president, acting pursuant to Article 180 of the constitution, would have acted in good faith and brought before Parliament a proposal for the expenditure to cater for the first quarter of 2025,” Dr. Forson said.
He further accused President Akufo-Addo’s administration of leaving the public sector uncatered for in the first quarter of 2025.
Dr. Forson, however, assured Ghanaians that the incoming NDC government, set to take office on January 7, 2025, would act swiftly to address the situation.
“This was very important because the appropriation act for 2025 will not come into force on the 1st of January 2025. Sadly President Akufo Addo planned to leave the public service uncatered for in the first quarter of the year, 2025.
“However let me give assurance to the people of Ghana and all stakeholders that the NDC government will take office on 7th January 2025, and we will act with dispatch to cater for expenditure for the first quarter of the year 2025,” he stated.
Majority Response
Meanwhile, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has defended the Finance Minister’s inability to present the mini-budget, attributing the delay to what he termed as the “lawlessness” of the Minority Caucus.
He assured that the expenditure in advance of appropriation would be addressed promptly when Parliament resumes in January.
Implications of the Delay
The failure to pass the mini-budget could result in disruptions to essential government services, as the Vote on Account is necessary to fund operations during the transition period.
With the adjournment, Ghana enters a period of uncertainty until Parliament reconvenes.
As both parties exchange blame, the delay underscores the critical role of collaboration in ensuring continuity of governance during transition periods.
Read Statement Below:
