The Member of Parliament for Sefwi Wiawso, Kofi Benteh Afful, has slammed the Minority in Parliament for overly criticising the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government.
The Statement, presented to the House on Thursday, November 13, 2025, by Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, projects a 4.8 per cent economic growth.
Debating the budget, the Minority downplayed its impact on the economy, saying the Minister didn’t present real growth that will better the lives of the citizenry.
But the Sefwi Wiawso legislator countered, explaining the difference between economic growth and development, saying the budget aims to address both.
“So today, our friends in one corner are trying to tell us they’ve forgotten the distinction between economic growth and development. We’re presenting a budget that seeks to grow and develop the economy,” he said
Mr. Afful added that the proposed economic growth is expected to create 800,000 jobs to address the unemployment problem left by the previous administration.
He also highlighted a brighter economic outlook, with improvements in exchange rates and inflation, citing a projected 4.8% growth, exchange rate around 20.9%, and inflation below 8%, targeting 5% by year-end.
“Even though we stated to grow the economy by 4.8%, Mr. Speaker, in this 4.8%, 800,000 jobs are going to be created to solve some of the problems they left behind. In this 4.8% growth we are estimating, Mr. Speaker, exchange rate is currently hovering around 20.9%, inflation is below 8% and we are targeting an end of year at 5%.”
The legislator playfully attributed the Minority’s poor economic understanding and management to their poor performance in the December 2024 elections.
He noted that the chamber once accommodated Majority and Minority members on the Speaker’s right and left, but they are now relegated to a small corner.
“Mr. Speaker, if this is how they want us to grow the economy like they did, then let them know we’re not going to manage it like that. If this is what you did, then I’m not surprised that you went into an examination in December 2024 and your best score was 87 out of 276. You see you’ve been reduced to one corner.,” he said, referencing the Minority’s reduced numbers in Parliament.
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