Parliament urged to expedite work on budget estimates - As House adjourns sine die Friday

COMMItTEES of Parliament have been urged to expedite work on consideration of the annual budget estimates submitted by the various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and constitutional bodies.

This would enable the House to pass the Appropriation Bill, 2025, before Parliament adjourns sine die on Friday, March 28, 2025.

The Deputy Majority Leader, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, who said this, also called on MDAs and other constitutional bodies that were yet to submit their budget estimates to Parliament to do so immediately for them to be considered and approved on time.

Mr Ricketts-Hagan, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Coast South, said this when he presented the Business Statement for the 11th week to Parliament last Friday.

Appropriation Bill

The Appropriation Bill is a crucial legislation that follows the presentation of the 2025 budget to Parliament. This bill essentially outlines the allocation of funds for various government activities and programmes.

The Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, on March, 11, 2025, presented the 2025 Budget to Parliament, which was followed by a debate in Parliament that commenced on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 and ended yesterday, March 24, 2025.

The Appropriation Bill is a key component of the budget process, as it provides the legal framework for the government to spend funds on various projects and initiatives.

House to adjourn

Mr Ricketts Hagan reminded all committees of Parliament that the House has only five sitting days from Monday, March 24 to Friday, March 28, 2025 to transact business before it adjourns indefinitely on Friday, March 28.

“Mr Speaker, the Business Committee again reminds all Committee Chairpersons that the House has only five Sitting days from Monday, March 24 to Friday, March 28, 2025 to transact business pending before the House prior to adjourning sine die on Friday, March 28, 2025,” he said.

In view of that, the Deputy Majority said the Business Committee has proposed extended sittings beyond the prescribed sitting hours for the week to afford the House ample time to exhaust the business especially the passage of the Appropriation Bill.

“The Business Committee proposes that on Monday through to Wednesday, Sitting of the House should commence at 12 noon.”

“This is to allow Committees to sit in the morning before plenary commences.

Then on Thursday and Friday, Sitting would commence at 10.00am to ensure the House considers all outstanding business before adjourning sine die,” he said.