#PUBLIC MONIES DEFINITION FREE#

Through parliamentary mechanisms/tools such as Question Time, Statements, Motions, debate on policy/bills, among others, an MP has the opportunity to draw attention to developments in his constituency and explore avenues for socio-economic development of the constituency. The MP is the communication link between his constituents and Government. Parliament is the supreme forum for the ventilation of grievances aimed at seeking redress. Parliament also exercises this power through the approval or otherwise of Presidential nominees for appointment as Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Chief Justice and other Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of the Council of State and other public offices specified by law. Parliament exercises this function by way of scrutiny of policy measures and executive conduct through its Committees, Questions to Ministers, Motions, and Censorship of Ministers among others. Parliament keeps a watch over the performance of the Executive, which controls the public services, to ensure that the implementation of public policy conforms to the approved developmental agenda of the state and expenditure incurred is in accordance with parliamentary authorisations. Parliament is, however, empowered to control the expenditure of public funds.Īs the embodiment of the sovereign will of the people of Ghana, Parliament exercises oversight of the Executive.

#PUBLIC MONIES DEFINITION FREE#

In effect, the Executive is free to propose various expenditure levels and how revenue should be raised to meet them. Appointing an auditor to audit and report on the accounts of the Auditor-General’s office (article 187).Authorising the waiver/exemption or variation of taxes (article 174).

Monitoring the country’s foreign exchange receipts and payments or transfers (article 184).

Authorising the granting or receiving of loans (cf.

In addition to these, Parliament’s financial powers cover:

Parliament has the power and duty to monitor the expenditure of public funds to ensure that the monies it has authorised are used for the purposes for which they are intended by taking appropriate action on the Auditor-General’s Reports.

Apart from moneys charged directly on the Consolidated Fund by the Constitution, no moneys can be withdrawn from the Fund without the authority of Parliament (art.

No tax can be imposed without the authority of Parliament (art.

The legislative function consists of passing Bills and scrutinizing statutory instruments and deciding whether to annul them or allow them to take effect by the effluxion of time.Ĭhapter Thirteen of the 1992 Constitution variously, vests the control of all public funds (power of the public purse) in Parliament.

No person or body other than Parliament has the power to pass any measure with the force of law except by or under the authority conferred by an Act of Parliament. Under article 93(2) of the Constitution the legislative power of Ghana is vested in Parliament and is exercised in accordance with the Constitution. Law-making is considered to be the most important function of Parliament. Among others, the following can be clearly identified as functions performed by the Parliament of Ghana: Legislative However, a number of functions are incidental to the performance of this function. It is well known that Parliament’s basic function is law making.

Public monies definition