Parliament passes 2014 Appropriation Act

Parliament on Wednesday, went on recess, passing the Appropriation Act for the 2014 fiscal year, committing a sum of GH¢36,170,983,663.00 from the Consolidated Fund for government to meet its financial obligations for the year.

The 2014 appropriation of GH¢4, 325,318,844.00 is more than last year’s figure of GH¢31, 845,664,819.00, with the budget geared towards cutting the current deficit of 12 per cent to 8.5 per cent and targeting economic growth of eight per cent in the year.

The Act also makes provision for the sum of GH¢6,498,022,790.00 to be allocated to the District Assemblies Common Fund, Ghana Education Trust Fund, National Health Insurance Fund, Road Fund Petroleum related Fund and Transfers to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation from the oil revenue in the 2014 financial year.

Before the Act was passed, the House Finance Committee urged the Finance Minister to ensure that statutory payments should not be delayed unduly to ensure the smooth and timely implementation and completion of projects and programmes.

In rising, the Speaker Edward Doe Adjaho commended members for their comportment, decorum; understanding and cooperation exhibited throughout the session, and asked them to maintain the same level of performance in all parliamentary proceedings.

He urged Members to assist him maintain order in the House and to observe the rules governing their conduct to bridge the political divide.

The Speaker also applauded the efforts of all staff of the Parliamentary Service, the Press Corps and the Security services for their efforts at ensuring a successful session and prayed that God would keep and protect each one throughout the yuletide.

The House that is expected to reconvene in January 28, 2014 would start the First Meeting of the Second Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic with the consideration of the controversial Plant Breeders Bill.

Source: GNA