NMC saddled with problem - Report

The report, signed by the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Benjamin Kunbuor, requested the House to approve GHC2,560,322 for the operations of the Commission for 2013.

The committee noted with concern the significant decrease in the allocation of salaries and allowances of the employees of the commission.

Even though the proposed budget of the NMC to take care of the salaries and allowances of its employees was GHC2,385,697, it was allocated GHC286,432 for that purpose.

It said officials of the NMC informed the committee that MPFEP's allocation of GHC286,432 was woefully insufficient to cater for the salaries of its employees for 2013.

Various contributors to the ensuing debate enumerated the crucial role of the NMC in the country's democratic dispensation and called for more allocation of funds to resource the commission to enable it fulfill its mandate.

The House also approved GHC9,963,293 for the implementation of the programmes and activities of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

In its report, the Special Budget Committee served that insofar as the commission continued to be under resourced, with as much as 80 per cent of its programmes and activities funded by development partners, the independence and integrity of the commission was being undermined with possible ramifications.

"For instance, the committee foresees a looming situation where the recognition and promotion of human rights that are alien to the Constitution, will be imposed as conditionality for budget support for the commission and the country in the long run".

The House also approved GHC2,084,623 for the programmes and activities of the National Labour Commission for 2013.

Story by Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah