2024 budget approval for Police, EC, Judiciary shouldn’t be business as usual – Ablakwa
MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has raised significant concerns regarding the approval of the 2024 budget for the Ghana Police Service, the Electoral Commission (EC), and the Judiciary.
He asserts that the traditional approach to approving these budgets should be reconsidered due to alleged misconduct and actions detrimental to the rights of citizens by these institutions.
Mr Ablakwa begins by questioning the rationale behind approving the budget for the Ghana Police Service, given their reported misuse of power in suppressing legitimate protests.
In a Facebook post, he highlights instances of police brutality towards civilians and suggests that approving their budget might inadvertently endorse these actions.
His concern with the Police comes on the back of the recent controversial arrest of #OccupyJulorbi House demonstrators on day one of their demonstration.
Shifting focus to the Electoral Commission (EC), the lawmaker questions the wisdom of approving their budget considering allegations of unconstitutional practices such as voter suppression and disenfranchisement. He also criticizes EC Chairperson Jean Mensa for alleged dishonesty regarding the 2023 budget cut claims, implying that their actions may not warrant budget approval without addressing these concerns.
Regarding the Judiciary, Ablakwa raises concerns about their perceived biases and lack of responsiveness to critical cases. He questions the Judiciary’s fairness and consistency, particularly in political cases, and emphasises their refusal to address the e-levy case.
Mr Ablakwa suggests that Parliament should consider withholding approval for the Judiciary’s 2024 budget as a means of advocating accountability and fair practices within the institution.
He urged Parliament to prioritise the interests of the Ghanaian people and confront issues of alleged misconduct and abuses of power by these institutions.
He emphasises the crucial role of Parliament in safeguarding democracy and implores parliamentarians not to betray the trust of the suffering Ghanaian populace in this critical juncture.
Details of full post below:
During the 2024 Budget approval processes in Parliament this November, it certainly must not be business as usual for these 3 institutions: Ghana Police Service, Electoral Commission and the Judiciary.
Why should the police budget be approved when they keep blocking legitimate protests capriciously?
Why should the Police budget receive our approval when they can’t stop brutalizing harmless civilians?
Would a blanket approval of their budget not amount to a tacit parliamentary endorsement of their atrocities?
Why should the EC budget be approved when they continue with impunity to carry out their unconstitutional schemes of voter suppression and mass disenfranchisement?
Additionally, why should Jean Mensa be made to get away with her blatant falsehood against Parliament when she dishonestly claimed Parliament cut her 2023 budget?
Why should this particular judiciary which recklessly enables and emboldens the Police and the EC receive our blessings?
Why should a judiciary which refuses to hear our e-levy case be heard in Parliament when they present their 2024 budget?
Why should a judiciary which has different standards for political cases depending on which political tradition it favours continue to receive our cooperation within the legislature?
Parliament has a choice in November to either stand with the Ghanaian people and curtail the abominable levels of tyranny of the Executive and the Judiciary, and thereby begin to restore some confidence in our ailing democracy or to betray the people who elected us by aligning with oppressors.
Never in our country’s history have so many been left with no other option but to rely on Parliament as the last bastion — I pray we do not fail the suffering Ghanaian people this time.
May God help us resist and defeat oppressors’ rule!
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