Parliament sets November 15 for 2024 budget presentation

The Ghanaian Parliament has proposed November 15, 2023, as the date for the presentation of the 2024 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government.

This important announcement was made by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, during the First Sitting of the Third Meeting of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

Speaker Bagbin revealed that the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, would appear before the House on the specified date to present the Budget Statement for the 2024 fiscal year.

In his welcome remarks, Speaker Bagbin emphasised the parliamentary responsibility to scrutinise the budget thoroughly to ensure it caters to the needs of all Ghanaians.

“As our oversight responsibility requires, we will have to scrutinise the budget to ensure that it serves the needs of all Ghanaians,” Speaker Bagbin stated.

He also expressed his belief that the House would adopt a consultative and consensus-building approach throughout the budget approval process.

The Speaker highlighted the House's capacity and experience in previous budget approval deliberations, asserting that the current one would be no different.

However, Speaker Bagbin noted the urgency in passing the Budget Bill, enabling the House to engage more technical personnel and ensuring compliance with recent legislation.

In addition to the 2024 Budget presentation, Parliament has several pressing matters to address, including the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill, 2023, and the Social Protection Bill. Other legislative and regulatory instruments on the agenda include the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (Amendment) Bill, Representation of the People (Parliamentary Constituencies) (Amendments) Instrument, 2023, District Electoral Areas and Designation of Units (Amendments) Regulations, 2023, Ghana Enterprises Agency (Classification of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) Regulations 2023, Tree Crop Regulation 2023, Chartered Institute of Human Resources Management, Ghana Regulations, and the Companies Regulations 2023.