The Minority has accused the government of failing to prioritise spending in critical sectors of the economy, arguing that the misallocation of public resources is slowing economic growth and undermining national development.
Parliament has begun debate on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, with opposition MPs criticising the government over a revenue shortfall despite the introduction of new tax measures aimed at boosting domestic revenue mobilization.
Former Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei-Asare argued that government expenditure has declined by GH¢31 billion in the first half of the year.
She explained that economic growth is being stifled with the decline in government expenditure.
“Mr. Speaker, for expenditure same time last year, half-year 2025, we saw expenditure fall by GHC18.5 billion but this year half-year, expenditure is down by GHC31.3 billion.
“Government is balancing the books by not spending and if spending, they are not spending at the right places. We are stifling growth by not spending in the right places,” she stated.
Ofoase-Ayirebi NP, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah called out government for being unable to execute some of its promises on jobs and project as at mid-year 2026.
Oppong Nkrumah noted that in the history of the country, this is the first time a Finance Minister has been unable to tell Parliament about Government’s executed economic programme for the mid-year.
“This is the first time a finance minister has presented the Mid-year review and has not been able to tell the country how much of the economic programme has been executed and how much has not been executed.
“This Minister made promises of projects, jobs and programmes to the tune of GHC30 billion which it has not executed as at half-year. As at half-year, they have under executed the budget by GHC30 billion,” he said.
