Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has stated that the full extent of the deterioration caused by the Akufo-Addo-led administration's bad governance is being exposed by the day.

Minority Leader, Afenyo-Markins had commented and described the 2026 budget presentation by the finance Minister, Ato Forson, on November 13 on the floor of parliament as just lamentations.

In response, Ato Forson stated, "Our people say that when the tog is dead, then you see it full length. It is not lamentations. It is the continuous unearthing of the bad economic management of the NPP that is being revealed everyday."

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson presented the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy where he outlined strategies for economic growth, job creation, and post-International Monetary Fund (IMF) management.

Ahead of the presentation day, he announced plans to present the budget in October, but the date was later changed to allow for broader consultations and public input. Under the Public Financial Management Act, the Finance Minister is mandated to present the national budget to Parliament not later than November 15 each year.

The 2026 Budget introduced tax reforms, including a reduction of VAT from 22% to 20%, and a review of levies such as the COVID-19 levy. The budget was crucial for ensuring fiscal stability as Ghana readies to exit the IMF programme in May 2026,

Dr. Forson maintains that growth targets and fiscal policies remain unchanged as inflation continues to fall, reaching 9.4% in September 2025 — the first single-digit rate since 2021.

The 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy Ghana’s announced that the economy is expected to experience significant growth in 2026.

The Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, projected a 4.8% increase in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2026.

He also forecasted that inflation would drop to 8% by the end of the year. “Right honorable Speaker, for the year 2026, we will achieve the following at the minimum, real GDP growth of at least 4.8%, driven by continued expansion in infrastructure, service sectors, and agriculture as well. … Mr. Speaker, at least 4.9%, and end the inflation for next year will be at least 8% ± 2,” he added.

The Minister noted that the projected growth would be driven by continued development in infrastructure, the services sector, and agriculture. Ghana recorded a 6.3% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2025 and an 8.0% inflation rate for October, down from 9.4% recorded in September.

The 8.0% inflation rate indicates a sharp improvement from the 23.8% recorded in December 2024. The IMF projects a decrease in global inflation while predicting slower economic growth in 2025 for the U.S. and other regions.

The presentation of the year-ahead budget is in accordance with the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) of Ghana, which was passed by Parliament and assented to on August 25, 2016.

The Act governs how public funds are managed across all government entities.

The Act mandates that the Finance Minister, acting on behalf of the President, lay before Parliament, not later than November 15 of each financial year, estimates of the revenues and expenditures of the government.

According to some analysts, the 2025 Budget largely followed the same plans, ideas, and policies set up by the erstwhile government.In July this year, the Finance Minister, Dr. Ato Forson, mentioned that the Mahama-led administration would present its 2026 Budget and Economic Statement to Parliament in October 2025, instead of November 2025.

With this, Parliament would have about an additional month to debate the 2026 Budget before the House goes on recess in late December. He noted that the new timeline for the presentation would aid thorough deliberation, allowing room for alterations before the budget comes into force at the beginning of 2026.

“We are aiming to present the 2026 budget to Parliament by the end of October 2025. Preparations are already underway. We want to avoid the delays and uncertainties of the past. This government is committed to proper planning and transparency,” he disclosed during an appearance on a special edition of PM EXPRESS with host Evans Mensah on July 24.

However, the Finance Ministry later announced in a statement in August that November 15 would be the new date for the budget presentation. In the same statement, it requested inputs from the general public to be considered in the 2026–2029 National Budget. The inputs, the Ministry said, were to be submitted electronically to bdru@mofep.gov.gh

This call was in line with the government's responsiveness to the needs of the Ghanaian citizenry to deepen citizens' participation in the budget process, as well as implement inclusive policies.

Consequently, the Finance Ministry has reportedly completed several rounds of stakeholder engagements and industry consultations to finalise the policies and programs that will feature in the 2026 Budget.

In earlier interviews, Dr Forson has listed economic growth, development and job creation, particularly for Ghana’s ballooning youth and deepening unemployment crisis, as the main focus of the 2026 Budget.

Sources also suggest that the Finance Minister is set to introduce new policy measures aimed at reforming the tax system and improving revenue mobilisation.

According to the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Sarpong, the 2026 Budget will include a review of the Value Added Tax (VAT), with the effective rate expected to be reduced from 22% to 20%.

This adjustment is part of ongoing reforms to simplify the VAT structure and make it more business-friendly.Additionally, Dr Forson is expected to review several tax levies, including the COVID-19 levy, as part of efforts to ease the tax burden on businesses and households.

With Ghana set to exit the IMF programme in May 2026, attention will also be on how the Finance Minister plans to manage the economy in the post-programme period.

The 2026 Budget will, therefore, be one of the government’s most significant economic policy documents, setting the tone for fiscal management and growth strategy after the IMF programme.

Another key area of interest for industry players and economists will be how Dr Ato Forson intends to manage the fiscal deficit and expenditure in 2026 while maintaining macroeconomic stability.

During the mid-year budget review, the Finance Minister announced the abolition of certain levies, including the e-levy, betting tax, and emissions levy, and provided projections for the country's growth and other key indicators. He insisted that the government would stick to what was announced earlier this year. “We are not changing course. The growth target, the fiscal deficit, and the inflation target—all of it remains as announced in the 2025 Budget. We are sticking to it.” “The economy is responding well. We’ve seen 5.3% GDP growth in Q1, inflation is falling, and the cedi is stable. So there’s no need to revise the framework.”

His comments came a few weeks after the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) announced the sixth consecutive reduction in the inflation rate this year so far. According to GSS, as of June, the country recorded a 13.7 percent rate, a 4.7 percent decline from the 18.4 percent rate reported in May.

This is also the lowest rate recorded since February 2022 at the time. Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, following the release of data on July 2, noted that the reduction in the rate was due to the decline in prices of foodstuffs and other items.

Subsequently, Ghana has recorded a single-digit inflation with September 2025's falling to 9.4%, marking the country's first return to single-digit inflation since August 2021.