The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has disputed claims by the Ministry of Finance that it has released GH¢1.6 billion, representing 85 per cent of the ministry’s 2026 budget allocation, describing the assertion as inconsistent with official budget execution documents.
In a statement issued by the Office of the Minister for Food and Agriculture, MOFA said records from the Ministry of Finance do not support the claim that such an amount has been made available to the ministry.
According to the statement signed by Samuel Huntor, Media Liaison Officer at the Office of the Minister for Food and Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance issued a Commitment Authorization to MOFA on February 15, 2026.
However, four days later, it issued the 2026 First and Second Quarter Budget Allotment Letter, which placed limits on the ministry’s expenditure for the first half of the year.
The statement indicated that the allotment letter explicitly directed that MOFA’s total expenditure from January to June 2026 should not exceed GH¢910 million.
It further stated that the accompanying allotment schedule restricted actual spending during the period to approximately GH¢453 million, covering staff compensation, contractual obligations and operational activities.
MOFA noted that allocations made to some of its key programmes included GH¢172.5 million for Farmer Service Centres, GH¢36.7 million for the Nkokonkitinkiti Programme, GH¢77.3 million for fertiliser and certified seeds, GH¢4.5 million for the Feed Ghana Programme, GH¢30 million for the National Food Buffer Stock Company and GH¢26.25 million for irrigation infrastructure.
The ministry maintained that since the issuance of the allotment letter, it has not received any additional communication from the Ministry of Finance authorising expenditures that would justify the claim that GH¢1.6 billion has been released.
It therefore questioned the basis of the figure being cited by the Finance Ministry.
“If the Ministry of Finance officially capped MOFA’s spending through its allotment system and has not issued any subsequent authorisation, where exactly is this GH¢1.6 billion figure coming from?” the statement asked.
The ministry stressed that public financial management should be guided by official allotments, cash releases and actual budget availability rather than public pronouncements.
MOFA further called for transparency and accuracy in discussions surrounding public finances, particularly in the agricultural sector, which it described as critical to food security and national development.
For clarity, the ministry said it had attached copies of the Commitment Authorization and the 2026 First and Second Quarter Budget Allotment Letter issued by the Ministry of Finance, which it said clearly show that its expenditure ceiling for the first half of 2026 was capped at GH¢910 million.
“The facts speak for themselves,” the statement added.
Read the statement below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STOP THE INFANTILE PROPAGANDA BEFORE IT EXPLODES
The attention of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has been drawn to claims by the Ministry of Finance that it has released GH¢1.6 billion, representing 85% of MOFA’s 2026 budget allocation. These claims do not align with the official budget execution documents issued by the Ministry of Finance itself.
On 15th February 2026, the Ministry of Finance issued a Commitment Authorization to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. However, just four days later, on 19th February 2026, the Ministry of Finance issued the 2026 First and Second Quarter Budget Allotment Letter, which explicitly stated that, notwithstanding the contents of the Commitment Authorization, MOFA’s total expenditure for the first half of the year should not exceed GH¢910 million.
More significantly, the accompanying allotment schedule further restricted actual spending between January and June 2026 to approximately GH¢453 million, covering all expenditures, including staff compensation, contract commitments, and operational activities.
The records indicate that only limited allocations were made to key agricultural interventions, including:
- Farmer Service Centres – GH¢172,500,000.00
- Nkokonkitinkiti Programme – GH¢36,747,767.55
- Fertiliser and Certified Seeds – GH¢77,297,026.30
- Feed Ghana Programme – GH¢4,500,000.00
- National Food Buffer Stock Company – GH¢30,000,000.00
- Irrigation Infrastructure – GH¢26,250,000.00
Since the issuance of the allotment letter, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has not received any subsequent communication from the Ministry of Finance authorising additional expenditures that would support the claim that GH¢1.6 billion has been released.
The question, therefore, remains straightforward:
If the Ministry of Finance officially capped MOFA’s spending through its allotment system and has not issued any subsequent authorisation, where exactly is this GH¢1.6 billion figure coming from?
Public financial management is governed by official allotments, cash releases, and actual budget availability—not by public relations narratives or propaganda.
The Ghanaian people deserve transparency, accuracy, and honesty in the management of public finances, particularly in a sector as critical as agriculture and food security.
For the avoidance of doubt, attached are the Commitment Authorization letters issued by the Ministry of Finance, together with the 2026 First and Second Quarter Budget Allotment Letter and the accompanying schedule, which clearly indicate that MOFA’s expenditure ceiling for the first half of 2026 was capped at GH¢910,000,000.
The facts speak for themselves.
Signed
Samuel Huntor
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the Minister for Food and Agriculture…
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