By Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, March 29, GNA – Parliament has passed the Appropriation Bill of more than GH¢293.11 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, which ended with a vote in the early hours of Saturday morning.
An Appropriation Bill is a proposed law that specifies the exact amount of government money that could be spent on various programmes, services, and activities.
It is a crucial step in the budgeting process, as it allocates funds to different government departments and agencies, allowing them to carry out their authorized programmes and services.
The amount will be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund and other public funds and for related matters.
The objective of the Bill is to provide for appropriation for the year 2025.
This is per the constitutional requirement under paragraph (a) of clause (2) of Article 179 of the Constitution that estimates of expenditure of public offices shall be included in an Appropriation Bill to be introduced in Parliament to provide for the issue of funds from the Consolidated Fund and other public funds to meet government expenditure.
In Ghana’s Parliament, an Appropriation Bill is approved through a multi-step process, that is the First Reading. The Minister for Finance presents the bill to Parliament, outlining the government’s spending plans and budget allocations; Second Reading, the Bill is debated by Members of Parliament (MPs) with MPs discussing its merits and potential impacts on the country’s economy and development; Consideration, after the Second Reading, the Bill goes through a Consideration stage, where Parliament examines the Bill clause by clause, making any necessary amendments; Third Reading, once the Bill has been thoroughly examined and amended, it is presented for a Third Reading, where MPs votes on its approval.
At the Passage Stage, if the bill is approved, it is sent to the President for assent, after which it becomes an Act of Parliament, authorizing the government to spend funds as allocated.
Throughout this process, Parliament ensures that the government’s spending plans align with the country’s development priorities and fiscal policies.
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