[ 2012-08-16 ]

CRC exceeds budget
The Constitution Review Commission has spent more
than twice of its original budget on its mandate
to review the constitution.

The Commission budgeted an amount of $2.7 million
but ended up spending 6.3 million dollars.

The Executive Secretary Dr. Raymond Atuguba
explained the astronomical increase in the budget
is as a result of a sharp increase in the volume
of submissions they had to process.

According to him, the Commission estimated close
to 20,000-30,000 submissions but ended up
receiving over 80,000 submissions.

The Commission embarked on a nationwide tour to
receive submissions from Ghanaians for a possible
amendment of the constitution which has been in
operation for over 20 years.

After a thorough collation and scrutiny, the
Commission presented its report to government, 90
per cent of which was accepted by government after
which a white paper was issued.

Atuguba told Joy News the sheer volume of
submissions led to the increase in budget
allocation.

He explained however that there were contributions
from major European Union funding agencies and the
British High Commission.

He was unhappy over what he said was the delay in
retrieving funds accrued through the text message
policy adopted by the Commission.

The CRC as part of measures to raise funds adopted
a text message plan which allowed for citizens to
submit their opinions on what they want included
or taken out from the constitution.

Dr. Atuguba said they are yet to receive the funds
accrued and appealed to the mobile phone companies
to make the funds available.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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