President Akufo-Addo has approved the 2025 budget estimates for the Judicial Service, Audit Service, and Parliament. The announcement was made by Speaker Alban Bagbin during a parliamentary session on December 18, 2024.
The approved estimates are a constitutional requirement, pending the formal presentation of the “Expenditure in Advance of Appropriation” by the Finance Minister.
The Speaker conveyed the President’s communication, outlining the proposed budget allocations for the first quarter of the 2025 financial year. These estimates are vital for the operations of the respective institutions and will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny after the Finance Minister’s submission.
Judicial Service Budget
According to the President’s communication, the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Torkornoo, submitted the 2025 budget estimates for the Judiciary and Judicial Service on October 21, 2024, in compliance with Article 179(3) of the Constitution. The summary of their financial needs for the first quarter of 2025 stands at GHS 276,499,903.
The breakdown includes provisions for compensation, goods and services, and capital expenditure (CapEx).
Audit Service Budget
The Audit Service submitted its 2025 budget request on October 27, 2024, through its board chairman, Professor Edward Dua Agyeman. The proposed allocation is GHS 217,342,587, also covering compensation, goods and services, and capital projects (CapEx). The submission aligns with Section 27(2) of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584).
Parliamentary Service Budget
For Parliament and the Parliamentary Service, the President acknowledged receipt of the Speaker’s budget submission dated October 29, 2024. The approved financial allocation for the first quarter of 2025 totals GHS 450,578,877.29.
These funds will support the operational needs of the legislature, including salaries, goods and services, and CapEx.
Speaker Bagbin emphasized that while the President has approved the estimates, they are yet to be formally laid before Parliament for consideration. This will be done after the Finance Minister presents the mini-budget, which will include details of expenditures in advance of appropriation.
“Until the budget is properly presented, these estimates are just for your information. Once the Finance Minister presents the mini-budget, the appropriate committees will examine them for further deliberation and reporting to the House,” Speaker Bagbin noted.
Parliament awaits the Finance Minister’s presentation of the mini-budget, which is a critical component of the government’s fiscal planning process. This will ensure timely allocation of funds to sustain the operations of these key institutions in the early months of 2025.
The approved estimates highlight the government’s commitment to upholding the independence and functionality of the Judicial Service, Audit Service, and Parliament while maintaining transparency in the budgetary process.
