Seth Terkper, a former Minister of Finance has cautioned that the government risked a shutdown if the provisional budget is not passed before the elections by the parliament of Ghana.
According to Seth Terkper, the Akufo-Addo government may need to reduce interest payments and funding for the transition unless a budget is passed in December.
“We risk a government shutdown or, at best, reduced government spending from January.” Seth Terkper is quoted by an international news platform Reuters.
Information gathered suggests this would be the first time in over 30 years that the government of Ghana has failed to pass a budget.
It is highly unlikely Parliament will be able to pass the provisional budget before the elections with the Speaker of Parliament rejecting the NPP caucus call for parliament to be reconvened for urgent government business before the 2024 elections.
Speaker Bagbin, in a memo to the majority on Tuesday, November 26, noted that “The House will resume sitting after the elections to complete all essential matters before a seamless transition to the 9th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.”
