Parliament has approved a GH¢1.619 billion budget to run the House and the Parliamentary Service in the 2026 financial year, but Members of Parliament say the amount is inadequate to support effective legislative work.

The allocation will cover salaries and allowances for MPs and staff, goods and services, committee and oversight activities, ICT and e-Parliament upgrades, facility maintenance, research, documentation and constituency-related work.

Despite the approval, MPs from both the Majority and Minority benches argued during debate on the committee’s report that the funding falls far below Parliament’s operational needs. They cited persistent challenges such as the lack of constituency offices, deteriorating facilities at Job 600, faulty elevators and washrooms, and limited tools for effective oversight.

Leadership of the Committee on Parliamentary Affairs disclosed that Parliament’s original proposal of over GH¢4.6 billion was reduced to GH¢1.619 billion, a cut they said undermines critical projects, including constituency consultancy offices and infrastructure upgrades. They urged the Finance Ministry to consider a dedicated funding stream or improved mid-year allocations to safeguard Parliament’s independence and efficiency.

Minority MPs, including Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Dr Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama, argued that Parliament remains overly dependent on the Executive, receiving only about 40 per cent of its requests. They called for Parliament to be guaranteed a fixed share of national revenue and raised concerns about accessibility challenges for persons with disabilities within the parliamentary complex.

On the Majority side, Isaac Adongo acknowledged the funding gaps but cautioned that Parliament’s challenges could not be resolved in a single year, attributing the situation to years of inadequate incremental funding. He expressed optimism that allocations would improve steadily under the current administration.

Deputy Finance Minister and MP for Asuogyaman, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, defended the allocation, stating that budget cuts affected all ministries, departments and agencies due to limited national resources. He noted that Parliament received the highest percentage increase—over 45 per cent—from 2025 to 2026, urging MPs to view the allocation within the broader fiscal context.