The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has taken a bold legislative step by filing a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament aimed at introducing major reforms to Ghana’s public financial management system.
The proposed bill seeks to ensure that no Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA) receives public funds unless its development plan has been formally certified by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC). This requirement is intended to align government spending with national development priorities and enhance fiscal discipline.
According to Hon. Oppong Nkrumah, the bill is designed to promote long-term, strategic planning in the allocation of public resources, and to minimise wasteful expenditure that often arises from ad hoc or politically-driven projects. By requiring certification of development plans, the legislation would ensure that public investments deliver measurable benefits aligned with the national vision.
The lawmaker, a former Minister emphasised that the bill represents a crucial move towards strengthening accountability and transparency in the use of public funds. He noted that aligning budget allocations with verified development strategies would ultimately improve governance and service delivery across all sectors of the economy.
The bill also proposes that the NDPC be granted expanded oversight authority to review and approve development plans before they are included in the national budget. This would give the Commission a more central role in shaping Ghana’s economic direction and in monitoring the effectiveness of public sector initiatives.
Stakeholders in the governance and policy space have welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary. Several civil society organisations have expressed optimism that the bill, if passed, could significantly improve value for money in public projects and enhance trust in the nation’s budgetary process.
The Private Member’s Bill is currently before Parliament and is expected to undergo stakeholder consultations and committee review in the coming weeks. Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has called on fellow legislators and the public to support the measure as part of ongoing efforts to build a more accountable and results-oriented public sector.
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