Gov’t spends more than GHC 2bn than forecasted

Government’s commitment to ensuring fiscal discipline and rein in spending ahead of this year’s election is under threat.

The fiscal figures for the first five months of this year show that the government has spent more than GHC 2 billion than forecasted.

The latest development is raising concerns over government ability to deal with election-year pressure and demand from labour and communities yearning for basic developmental needs.

The Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, on Monday requested for a supplementary budget of GHC1.8 billion due to a plunge in commodities prices, shut down of the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah and drop in crude oil prices on the international market.

He assured that government would resist budget overruns, often associated with elections, manage the public debt to ensure debt sustainability, sustain fiscal discipline and invest in infrastructure to ensure a better Ghana for all.

Asked if the government will able to spend within budget limits considering the fiscal numbers for the first five months, a Deputy Minister of Finance, Mona Quartey responded in the affirmative.

She added: “We can because we know clearly what budget we have for the Electoral Commission.

“We are making sure that we give them enough fund [s] to be able to run an efficient and a peaceful election.”

According to her, the government is “very comfortable" with the fiscal numbers thus far.

Mrs Quartey also debunked assertions that the government is overspending for “purposes of elections.”