Budget allocations will cripple MDAs - Ato Forson
A former Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, has said the size of the budget allocation to the Office of the President is way bigger than that for the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), a phenomenon which has the tendency to cripple their performance.
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Mr Ato Forson, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam, analysing the 2017 budget, said the allocations made to the office of the government machinery was equivalent to the size 27 different MDAs combined, and was the highest ever.
The 2017 budget allocated GH¢1.56 billion to the office of the government machinery for its operations which is made up of the provision of goods and services and other capital expenditure.
“A careful analysis of appendix 4a of the budget statement reveals very astonishing figures. For instance, goods and services of GH¢388,478.545 cedis for the office of government machinery far exceeds the combined total of all the economic and infrastructural ministries put together. In fact, it is equivalent to 27 MDAs allocation for 2017 which amounts to GH¢381million cedis,” he stated.
He said the situation was not different from capital expenditure, whereas, the office of government machinery was allocated GH¢1,082.876.609, the combined total of all economic ministries, namely Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Acquaculture, Ministry of Lands and Natural resources, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ministry of Environment, Science, Tech and Innovation and Ministry of Energy received only GH¢254.490.000.
Again, he said the allocation for all the infrastructural ministries put together namely, Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Ministry Works and Housing, Ministry of Roads and Highways, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Railway Development, Ministry Aviation and Ministry of Transport, amounted to GH¢1.038.098.760 which was far lower than the capital expenditure for the office of government machinery which was pegged at GH¢1,082,876.609.
“What this means is that the various ministries, department and agencies will not be able to operate effectively. In effect, the government is weakening the various ministries, departments and agencies,” he noted.
He pointed out that the allocation of GH¢388.478.545 million, representing goods and services for the office of government machinery is far bigger than all the economic and infrastructure ministries put together.
Budget allocations for economic ministries
The budget allocations for the economic ministries include; Ministry of Food and Agriculture- GH¢191,872,529, Ministry of fisheries and Agriculture Development- GH¢3,194,931, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources -GH¢6,652,881, Ministry of Trade and Industry -GH¢25,135,524.
Others include Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts-GH¢4,272,846, Ministry of Environment Science, Technology and Innovation -GH¢11,200,390, and Ministry of Energy-GH¢2,557,548.
Allocations for Infrastructure ministries
The allocations to the infrastructure ministries include; Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation-GH¢3.919.475, Ministry of Works and Housing-GH¢1.459.766, Ministry of Roads and Highways-GH¢1.500.000, and the Ministry of Communications -GH¢11.000.000.
Others are the Ministry of Railway Development-GH¢3.830.000, Ministry of Aviation-GH¢5,000.000, and the Ministry of Transport-GH¢2,000.000.
With these allocations, he said it was quite clear that the office of government machinery was doing all the capital projects whilst the infrastructure ministries with all its technical staff are being left to sit idle.
“Why should government pay compensation of employees to all the staff at these infrastructure ministries and yet deny them money for projects?” he asked.
