Parliament Approves GH¢786.9 Million Budget for EC Ahead Of 2024 Elections

Parliament approved the GH¢786.9 million budget for the Electoral Commission (EC) on Wednesday for the fiscal year that ends on December 31, 2024. But worries over a GH¢140.7 million shortage led the House to urge the Finance Ministry to swiftly close the gap in order to guarantee a successful conduct of the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

Related To This: 2024 Elections: More Polling Stations To Be Built To Reduce Long Queues The Leader of Government Business in Parliament and Majority Leader, Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, emphasized that the EC's planned operations depended on the extra GH¢140.7 million and that it would be difficult to hold the elections on time without it.

The Special Budget Committee, led by Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, stated that the requested funds were necessary for the EC's planned operations, which included obtaining more BVRs and BVDs, expanding the number of polling places, hiring and educating electoral officers, replacing departing employees, modernizing the data center, and obtaining ICT equipment. The EC had recommended a budget of GH¢932.03 million for the 2024 fiscal year, but the Finance Ministry had set the allocation at GH¢786.9 million, leaving a GH¢140.7 million shortfall. The Committee emphasized that the EC's work is time-sensitive and that any delay could have a negative impact on the stability of the nation.

Related To This: 2024 Elections: EC Proposes Polls Close At 3 P.M Member of the Special Budget Committee Mrs. Patricia Appiagyei urged the Finance Ministry to guarantee the EC's appropriate equipment for legitimate elections in 2024, voicing concerns over the usage of indelible ink during the District Level Elections. Other lawmakers, including as Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim and Mr. Kofi Iddie Adams, underlined the significance of continuing to employ indelible ink and pushed for the prompt provision of financial resources to the EC. Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh emphasized that it is the House's joint duty to guarantee sufficient money so that the electoral body can carry out its job.

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