The Ghanaian Parliament convened a three-day post-budget workshop to empower its members with the necessary expertise to effectively scrutinize the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin emphasized the budget’s critical role as the government’s primary policy instrument, outlining priorities and the roadmap for national development. Recognizing the budget’s technical complexity, he stressed the workshop’s importance in enabling MPs to effectively critique the document, posing insightful questions, evaluating trade-offs, and understanding long-term policy implications. He encouraged active participation, urging MPs to leverage the opportunity for in-depth analysis and informed decision-making.
Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Djietror, echoed the Speaker’s sentiments, highlighting the budget’s significance as a blueprint reflecting the nation’s collective vision, priorities, and aspirations. He advocated for critical engagement, evidence-based analysis, and constructive dialogue in evaluating fiscal policies and revenue projections. This rigorous approach, he suggested, would ensure a robust and transparent budgetary process.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga underscored the workshop’s role in facilitating MPs’ comprehension of both the policy statements and financial estimates within the budget. He highlighted the MPs’ responsibility to either approve or reject the budget based on its alignment with national development priorities. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of ensuring the budget’s consistency with the government’s “Reset Ghana” agenda, a key initiative aimed at revitalizing the national economy.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin emphasized the importance of continuous learning for effective parliamentary governance. He pointed out the diverse professional backgrounds of MPs, making capacity-building essential for informed participation in budget debates. Afenyo-Markin provided a practical example, illustrating how a thorough understanding of budgetary intricacies allows MPs to effectively identify and question discrepancies between allocated and actual expenditures. He lauded the Speaker’s leadership in organizing the workshop and encouraged active participation, particularly from first-time MPs, to enhance their confidence and effectiveness in representing their constituents.
Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Baah Forson described the workshop as a crucial platform for pre-approval budget assessment. He reiterated the 2025 budget’s focus on “resetting the Ghanaian economy for the people,” acknowledging the prevailing economic challenges while assuring MPs of innovative strategies implemented to address them. The workshop’s structure included plenary and breakout sessions, covering macroeconomic frameworks, sector-specific details, and taxation strategies. Expert-led discussions focused on key areas like the IMF program, debt management, and policy objectives.
The workshop aimed to equip MPs and Senior Officers of the Parliamentary Service with the skills needed to effectively scrutinize the government’s 2025 Budget and Economic Policy. It sought to provide deeper insight into the budget, enabling MPs to fulfill their oversight role and articulate government policies and programs. The anticipated outcome was informed deliberations, leading to robust legislation and an effective Appropriation Act for the 2025 financial year. The workshop’s emphasis on rigorous scrutiny and informed debate reflects Ghana’s commitment to accountable and responsible governance. The Minister presented the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on March 11, 2025, under the theme: “Resetting Ghana for the Economy We Want.” This theme encapsulates the government’s commitment to addressing economic challenges and building a stronger, more prosperous future for Ghana.
