The Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has appeared before Parliament today, Thursday, July 23, to present the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review.

The Mid-Year Budget Review in Ghana is a statutory requirement under Section 28 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921). It is expected to be presented to Parliament by July 31 each year and serves as an accountability mechanism to assess fiscal performance and adjust policy.

It is anchored in the constitutional principles of transparency and accountability under Articles 179 and 187 of the 1992 Constitution.

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A Mid-Year Budget Review is presented as a comprehensive fiscal update, structured to give Parliament and the public a clear picture of how the economy and government finances are performing halfway through the year.

Typically, the Minister begins with a macroeconomic update, where he touches on GDP growth, inflation trends, exchange rate movements, foreign reserves, and debt sustainability. This sets the tone by showing whether the economy is on track with projections or facing new pressures.

The review then covers revenue performance, explaining how much has been collected in taxes, levies, and other sources compared to what was projected in the annual budget. Following this, the Minister presents an expenditure review, which breaks down how government funds have been spent so far.

It includes details on wages and salaries, interest payments on debt, capital projects, and social interventions such as Free SHS and the School Feeding Programme.

The Minister also provides a fiscal deficit outlook, assessing whether Ghana is on track to meet its deficit target or whether adjustments are needed. For instance, the Minister is expected to provide an update on Ghana’s recently concluded IMF Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme and the country’s transition to the new Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI).