Budget Review Workshop for the Parliament

Helping Legislatures Better Serve Their People

PRESS RELEASE

Budget Review Workshop for the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, Ho, Volta

Region, November 19-21, 2011

Accra, Ghana, November 17, 2011: The extent to which parliaments are able to carry

out their legislative, oversight and representative functions in ways that promote good

governance and values of accountability, transparency and participation, is of

paramount importance. The budget process (and in particular the approval and

implementation phases) is a crucial area of focus for Parliaments.

In light of the above, the Parliamentary Centre (PC), in collaboration with the

Parliament of Ghana, is organizing a post–budget workshop from 19-21 November,

2011 at Ho in the Volta Region for the Leadership and Members of the Ghana

Parliament. The workshop is to enable the Leadership and Members of Parliament to

review the Economic Policy Statement and Annual Budget of the Government of Ghana

for the 2012 fiscal year. Resource persons and policy analysts drawn from independent

research institutions and think tanks will provide technical reviews on a broad

spectrum of issues including the following:

? Good Governance and Accountability in the Budget Process

? Gender issues & the 2012 Budget

? Modernization of Agriculture and Productivity

? Employment Generation

? Infrastructure Development and Essential Service Delivery

The workshop will, among other things, highlight key issues in the 2012 fiscal policy,

create a platform for discussions among the participants in order that they, as

parliamentarians, would appreciate the budget before the House discusses it for

approval. Therefore, it intends to facilitate dialogue among Members of Parliament from

across the political divide, increase their understanding of Government’s policy

objectives, and enhance their appreciation of the principles and key issues presented in

the 2012 Budget.

The workshop will also create a platform for Members of Parliament to have a fair

understanding of the performance of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in

the past year and their outlook for the 2012 fiscal year. It will also provide key pointers

to serve as a guide into how the 2012 budget balances needs against available resources

allocated to specific sectors, programs, regions, gender and other policy initiatives. The overall objective is to provide MPs with the tools to seek relevant information from

MDAs as they appear before the respective parliamentary committees. This is expected

to enhance Parliament’s ability to scrutinize budgetary allocations as well as their

linkages with national developmental priorities.

The workshop is organized under the auspices of the Parliamentary Centre`s Africa

Parliamentary Strengthening Program (APSP) for Budget Oversight and funded by the

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The goal of the APSP is to assist

seven partner Parliaments in Africa, including Ghana, to strengthen their role in

providing effective oversight of the national budget process, increase financial

accountability, and contribute to improved democratic governance.

The Parliamentary Centre, with the support of CIDA, will continue to promote and

augment the capacity of MPs in the selected countries to play their oversight role in the

budget process.

Contacts:

Accra: Dr. Rasheed Draman, dramar@parlcent.ca

Adams Fusheini, fusheinia@parlcent.ca

Email: info@parlcentafrica.org

Website: www.parlcentafrica.org

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