SEND-GHANA wants citizen participation in budget preparation

A Civil Society Organisation, SEND-GHANA, has urged citizens to get involved in the budget preparation process and use their voices to influence the 2016 budget.

According to the organisation, even though there is a call by the Ministry of Finance for public input into the budget, the structures to make this happen appear weak.

In view of this, SEND-GHANA through its programme ‘Making the Budget Work for Ghana Project’ is collating citizens’ views in the Greater Accra, Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions to influence the health and education budget of 2016 through a series of public fora.

Speaking at the Upper East forum, Daniel Adotey -- a Programme Officer of SEND–GHANA, explained that for CSOs and active citizens to be more effective in budget monitoring and tracking, there is a need to know the budget’s contents and be involved in its formulation.

This can be done by taking advantage of the opportunity that exists within the budget processes when the Ministry of Finance calls for public participation in preparing the budget.

“Sometimes what is captured in the budget may not necessarily reflect the real aspirations, interests and needs of ordinary people on the ground. 

“Therefore, if they are given the opportunity they can freely express themselves. Citizens feel connected to their government when they take part in the budget process. Their exclusion makes them see the budget as an external imposition on them. We should continue to encourage open discussion around the budget. We should demystify the public budget and begin to treat it as a document that is relevant to the lives of everybody in this country.”

He said budget preparation and discussions should not be left in the hands of a few technical people, adding that at the end of the day those who should benefit from the projects and programmes are the ordinary people.

Though there is an NHIS exemption clause for those above 70 to benefit from free access to health care at the various hospitals, 73-year old Memuna Adamu believes it is fraught with challenges.
According to her, hospital staff still demand money before attending to her.

She therefore advocated the 2016 budget should make provision for actual realisation of the exemption.

The Making the Budget Work for Ghana Project is funded by the World Bank through the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) Initiative.

A Civil Society Organisation, SEND-GHANA, has urged citizens to get involved in the budget preparation process and use their voices to influence the 2016 budget.
According to the organisation, even though there is a call by the Ministry of Finance for public input into the budget, the structures to make this happen appear weak.
In view of this, SEND-GHANA through its programme ‘Making the Budget Work for Ghana Project’ is collating citizens’ views in the Greater Accra, Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions to influence the health and education budget of 2016 through a series of public fora.
Speaking at the Upper East forum, Daniel Adotey -- a Programme Officer of SEND–GHANA, explained that for CSOs and active citizens to be more effective in budget monitoring and tracking, there is a need to know the budget’s contents and be involved in its formulation.
This can be done by taking advantage of the opportunity that exists within the budget processes when the Ministry of Finance calls for public participation in preparing the budget.
“Sometimes what is captured in the budget may not necessarily reflect the real aspirations, interests and needs of ordinary people on the ground.
“Therefore, if they are given the opportunity they can freely express themselves. Citizens feel connected to their government when they take part in the budget process. Their exclusion makes them see the budget as an external imposition on them. We should continue to encourage open discussion around the budget. We should demystify the public budget and begin to treat it as a document that is relevant to the lives of everybody in this country.”
He said budget preparation and discussions should not be left in the hands of a few technical people, adding that at the end of the day those who should benefit from the projects and programmes are the ordinary people.
Though there is an NHIS exemption clause for those above 70 to benefit from free access to health care at the various hospitals, 73-year old Memuna Adamu believes it is fraught with challenges.
According to her, hospital staff still demand money before attending to her.

She therefore advocated the 2016 budget should make provision for actual realisation of the exemption.

The Making the Budget Work for Ghana Project is funded by the World Bank through the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) Initiative.
- See more at: http://thebftonline.com/business/economy/14304/SEND-GHANA-wants-citizen-participation-in-budget-preparation.html#sthash.bxVumSjA.dpuf

A Civil Society Organisation, SEND-GHANA, has urged citizens to get involved in the budget preparation process and use their voices to influence the 2016 budget.
According to the organisation, even though there is a call by the Ministry of Finance for public input into the budget, the structures to make this happen appear weak.
In view of this, SEND-GHANA through its programme ‘Making the Budget Work for Ghana Project’ is collating citizens’ views in the Greater Accra, Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions to influence the health and education budget of 2016 through a series of public fora.
Speaking at the Upper East forum, Daniel Adotey -- a Programme Officer of SEND–GHANA, explained that for CSOs and active citizens to be more effective in budget monitoring and tracking, there is a need to know the budget’s contents and be involved in its formulation.
This can be done by taking advantage of the opportunity that exists within the budget processes when the Ministry of Finance calls for public participation in preparing the budget.
“Sometimes what is captured in the budget may not necessarily reflect the real aspirations, interests and needs of ordinary people on the ground.
“Therefore, if they are given the opportunity they can freely express themselves. Citizens feel connected to their government when they take part in the budget process. Their exclusion makes them see the budget as an external imposition on them. We should continue to encourage open discussion around the budget. We should demystify the public budget and begin to treat it as a document that is relevant to the lives of everybody in this country.”
He said budget preparation and discussions should not be left in the hands of a few technical people, adding that at the end of the day those who should benefit from the projects and programmes are the ordinary people.
Though there is an NHIS exemption clause for those above 70 to benefit from free access to health care at the various hospitals, 73-year old Memuna Adamu believes it is fraught with challenges.
According to her, hospital staff still demand money before attending to her.

She therefore advocated the 2016 budget should make provision for actual realisation of the exemption.

The Making the Budget Work for Ghana Project is funded by the World Bank through the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) Initiative.
- See more at: http://thebftonline.com/business/economy/14304/SEND-GHANA-wants-citizen-participation-in-budget-preparation.html#sthash.bxVumSjA.dpuf

A Civil Society Organisation, SEND-GHANA, has urged citizens to get involved in the budget preparation process and use their voices to influence the 2016 budget.
According to the organisation, even though there is a call by the Ministry of Finance for public input into the budget, the structures to make this happen appear weak.
In view of this, SEND-GHANA through its programme ‘Making the Budget Work for Ghana Project’ is collating citizens’ views in the Greater Accra, Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions to influence the health and education budget of 2016 through a series of public fora.
Speaking at the Upper East forum, Daniel Adotey -- a Programme Officer of SEND–GHANA, explained that for CSOs and active citizens to be more effective in budget monitoring and tracking, there is a need to know the budget’s contents and be involved in its formulation.
This can be done by taking advantage of the opportunity that exists within the budget processes when the Ministry of Finance calls for public participation in preparing the budget.
“Sometimes what is captured in the budget may not necessarily reflect the real aspirations, interests and needs of ordinary people on the ground.
“Therefore, if they are given the opportunity they can freely express themselves. Citizens feel connected to their government when they take part in the budget process. Their exclusion makes them see the budget as an external imposition on them. We should continue to encourage open discussion around the budget. We should demystify the public budget and begin to treat it as a document that is relevant to the lives of everybody in this country.”
He said budget preparation and discussions should not be left in the hands of a few technical people, adding that at the end of the day those who should benefit from the projects and programmes are the ordinary people.
Though there is an NHIS exemption clause for those above 70 to benefit from free access to health care at the various hospitals, 73-year old Memuna Adamu believes it is fraught with challenges.
According to her, hospital staff still demand money before attending to her.

She therefore advocated the 2016 budget should make provision for actual realisation of the exemption.

The Making the Budget Work for Ghana Project is funded by the World Bank through the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) Initiative.
- See more at: http://thebftonline.com/business/economy/14304/SEND-GHANA-wants-citizen-participation-in-budget-preparation.html#sthash.bxVumSjA.dpuf