The Parliament of Ghana is conducting a three-day post-budget workshop in Accra to prepare MPs for the scrutiny of the 2025 Budget. The workshop, led by key parliamentary figures, emphasizes the importance of understanding the complex budget to ensure informed decision-making in alignment with national priorities. It aims to foster critical engagement, capacity building, and policy analysis to enhance governance in the nation.
Parliament has commenced a three-day post-budget workshop in Accra, aimed at providing Members of Parliament (MPs) with essential knowledge for thorough analysis and scrutiny of the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin highlighted the significance of the national budget, considering it as a crucial document for declaring government priorities and guiding national development.
The Speaker further acknowledged the complexity of the budget, which presents challenges for both citizens and MPs in understanding its implications. This workshop intends to prepare MPs to engage more effectively with the budget by encouraging them to ask pertinent questions and evaluate the long-term effects of fiscal decisions. He emphasized the need for active participation during the sessions.
Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, expressed the importance of the Budget Statement as it incorporates fiscal policies reflecting national aspirations. He stressed the necessity for critical engagement and constructive dialogues to evaluate revenue projections and fiscal measures in the budget.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga asserted that the workshop is pivotal in assisting MPs to grasp policy statements and financial estimates. He conveyed their responsibility to critically assess the budget’s alignment with national development and the government’s ‘Reset Ghana’ agenda.
Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin remarked on the value of continuous learning for effective parliamentary governance, underlining the diverse professional backgrounds of MPs and the need for better understanding of fiscal intricacies. He encouraged MPs, especially newcomers, to engage fully in the workshop to enhance their skills in budget discussions.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson characterized the workshop as a vital forum for analyzing the budget prior to its approval. He reiterates that the 2025 budget aims to fundamentally transform the Ghanaian economy. The workshop also aims to equip MPs and senior staff with the necessary skills for effective budget scrutiny and oversight.
The sessions encompass various essential topics, including macroeconomic frameworks, taxation strategies, and sector-specific details, led by experts discussing issues such as public sector debt management and policy objectives. While confronting economic challenges, Dr. Forson assured MPs of the government’s commitment to implement innovative solutions for economic recovery, reinforcing the importance of responsible governance in Ghana.
The 2025 Budget Statement was officially presented to Parliament on March 11, 2025, under the theme, “Resetting Ghana for the Economy We Want,” establishing a clear direction for the nation’s fiscal policy in the forthcoming year.
The three-day post-budget workshop in Accra plays a vital role in preparing MPs for the analysis and scrutiny of the 2025 Budget. By emphasizing the importance of budget understanding, critical engagement, and continuous learning, the workshop aims to enhance the effectiveness of Parliament’s oversight role. The participation of diverse professionals in these training sessions is anticipated to strengthen parliamentary governance and its alignment with national development priorities.
Original Source: www.ghanabusinessnews.com
