Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has voiced his disappointment with the 2024 Mid-Year Budget Review, stating that it signals the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) impending transition to the opposition.

Dr. Ato Forson’s remarks followed the presentation of the review by Finance Minister Dr. Amin Adam on Tuesday, July 23, which highlighted the government's efforts to reverse negative economic trends and control expenditures.

The minister reported a provisional total debt of GH¢742 billion (US$50.9 billion) as of June, accounting for 70.6% of GDP, and assured that the government is adhering to its budget.

However, Dr. Ato Forson criticized the review for failing to abolish certain taxes, such as the COVID levy, E-levy, and emission levy, which he believes have contributed to Ghana’s high tax burden and driven businesses and citizens out of the country.

He described the review as a “missed opportunity” lacking new policies and ideas, and referenced the majority caucus jubilation song “Abamu awie” saying they are now “on their way to opposition.”

“At the very least Ghanaians expected that this mid-year review would have removed or abolished a number of taxes that has made Ghana a high tax regime to the extent that businesses are moving out of the country and the ordinary Ghanian is actually leaving the shores of this country. For example example COVID levy, E-levy, ‘Borla’ tax, tax on domestic electricity, emission levy.”

“Mr Speaker this is a missed opportunity. Mr Speaker instead the minister did not announce one single new policy. The minister did not introduce new ideas. Mr Speaker unfortunately Ghana is on autopilot, and our economy is on autopilot…All what I want to tell them, they are bereft of new ideas and I’m happy that they sang’ abamu awie’, you are on your way to opposition.”