News:
March 20, 2013
Parliament on Thursday approved budgetary estimates for four ministries for the implementation of the programmes for the year 2013.
The Ministry of Finance was allocated an amount of Two Hundred and Ninety-two Million,Two Hundred and Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy-eight Ghana Cedis(GHC 292,206,478), while the Ministry of Interior had Eight Hundred and Twenty Five Million, Eight Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Nine Ghana Cedis(GHC 825,817,169.00).
The Foreign Affairs Ministry was allocated One Hundred and Ten Million, Two Hundred and Twenty-nine Thousand and Forty-nine Ghana Cedis(GHC 110,229,049.00) while the Ministry of Roads and Highways had Seven Hundred and Six Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty-one Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Seven Ghana Cedis(GHC 706,721,937.00).
Presenting the report on the estimates, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, James Avedzi said the total allocation for the ministry has increased from the GHC 165,918,822.00 in 2012 to GHC 292,206,478in 2013.
Giving the budget allocation, he noted that out of the total amount GHC 214,170,624.00 is GOG, GHC46, 747,194.00 is Donor support, GHC 27,350,000.00 is ABFA while GHC 3,938,660.00 is IGF.
For the Ministry of Interior an amount of GHC 5,648, 963, was allocated to Headquarters’, 499,297,847 to Police Service, 107,904,383 to the Prison Service. Fire Service had 101,762,592; Immigration had 51,321,100, while NACOB had 12,433,500. NASC had 1, 455, 821, Migration 568,649, NADMO 40,096,030 while the Refugee Board had 1, 270,000. Others are Gaming-1, 008, 694, and Peace Council 3,049,590.
In considering the budget estimates, the Chairman of Defence and Interior Committee, George Kofi Arthur said the committee observed a general shortfall in allocations to all the sector agencies. He noted that the amounts granted are woefully inadequate to meet operational needs especially, in the face of current crime rate, land disputes and the drug menace confronting the country.
The committee on the other hand lauded the ministry for the initiative to take steps in conjunction with National Security and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to address comprehensively and on a sustainable manner the menace posed by alien herdsmen, especially the Fulanis.
Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh