Government shutdown looms as Parliament adjourns without mini-budget

A potential government shutdown looms as Parliament adjourned without addressing the critical mini-budget statement.

The adjournment follows the repeated absence of Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, who has failed to appear in the chamber for five consecutive days to present the motion.

The mini-budget, including the Vote on Account—a provisional measure to ensure government operations continue until the full 2025 budget is approved—remains unaddressed. This has left parliamentary proceedings stalled and members, particularly from the Minority, frustrated.

Parliament is now set to reconvene on January 2, 2025, raising concerns about the continuity of government operations in the interim.

Speaking to the press after the adjournment, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson expressed disappointment over the Finance Minister’s inability to fulfil this crucial mandate.

“In the spirit of a good transition, It is expected that the outgoing president, acting pursuant to article 180 of the constitution could have acted in good faith and brought before parliament a proposal for the expenditure to cater for the first quarter of the year 2025

“This was very important because the appropriation act for 2025 will not come into force on the 1st of January 2025. Sadly President Akufo Addo planned to leave the public service uncatered for in the first quarter of the year, 2025.

“However let me give assurance to the people of Ghana and all stakeholders that the NDC government will take office on 7th January 2025, and we will act with dispatch to cater for expenditure for the first quarter of the year 2025.”

The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin attributed the inability of the Finance Minister to present the 2025 Mini budget to what he deems as the lawlessness of the minority group.

He, however, assured that the expenditure in advance of appropriation will be laid by the Finance Minister when the house resumes.

Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi

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