Ghana’s Parliament has approved GH¢1.619 billion to finance its operations for the 2026 financial year, but Members of Parliament insist the allocation is far below what the legislature needs to function effectively and independently.

The approved amount will cover salaries and allowances for MPs and staff, goods and services, committee work, ICT and e-Parliament upgrades, repairs and maintenance, research support, documentation, and constituency-related activities. It also includes funding for logistics required to sustain the House’s legislative and oversight duties.

During the debate on the Committee on Parliamentary Affairs’ report yesterday (Wednesday, December 11, 2025), MPs from both sides of the House lamented long-standing operational constraints, including the lack of constituency offices, deteriorating facilities in Job 600 and inadequate tools to support oversight functions.

Observation

Presenting the motion, the leadership of the Committee on Parliamentary Affairs stressed that the GH¢1.619 billion allocation “remained grossly inadequate” compared to the more than GH¢4.6 billion proposal originally submitted by Parliament. They argued that the steep cuts undermine critical projects such as the establishment of constituency consultancy offices and repairs to failing facilities, including elevators and washrooms.

The committee cautioned that persistent underfunding weakens parliamentary efficiency and urged the Ministry of Finance to consider a dedicated revenue stream or an enhanced mid-year budget allocation to preserve Parliament’s operational independence.

Percentage revenue, executive control

The MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, argued that Parliament should be guaranteed a fixed percentage of national revenue, similar to funding arrangements for the GETFund and the National Health Insurance Fund. He criticised the chronic insufficiency of Parliament’s budget despite its central oversight role, highlighting the absence of proper constituency offices and the poor state of Job 600.

He said MPs are often forced to meet constituents “in informal locations,” and pointed to the lack of basic amenities such as ventilation and printers. He called on the Executive to treat parliamentary resourcing as a priority during the mid-year review.

The MP for Walewale, Dr Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama, also raised concerns about Parliament operating “at the mercy of the Executive,” receiving only about 40 per cent of its requests. “Both the Minister and his deputy are members of this House. 

They witness firsthand what MPs go through,” he lamented. He further emphasised that Parliament is not disability-friendly and compared Ghana’s situation to Kenya and Nigeria, where he said lawmakers enjoy far better institutional support.

Resource over time

The MP for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, cautioned that Parliament’s resourcing challenges “cannot be fixed in a single year,” saying successive governments had failed to improve the House’s allocation over time. 

He urged patience and an incremental approach, expressing optimism that the Finance Minister, himself a former MP, would continue to improve allocations in the coming years.

“Parliament of Ghana must be resourced over time and we do believe that our own Finance Minister, who is a member and once a leader of this House, would ensure that in subsequent years, the improvement that we are seeing this year will reflect in subsequent years,” Mr Adongo said.

Equitable distribution

The Deputy Minister of Finance and MP for Asuogyaman, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, defended the allocation, describing it as equitable and reflective of the government’s limited fiscal space. He noted that all ministries, departments and agencies experienced cuts, including the Executive and Judiciary.

He pointed out that Parliament had in fact recorded the highest percentage increase in allocation—over 45 per cent from 2025 to 2026. He further stated that budget releases had improved significantly, with the full 2025 allocation disbursed, unlike in previous years.

Mr Ampem urged MPs to deploy resources prudently and assured the House that the 2026 funds, including capital expenditure, would be released on schedule to address many of the institutional challenges raised.