Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has described Ghana’s economy as healthier than it was under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, while cautioning that the country still faces deep structural challenges that should not be overlooked.
In a Facebook post shared on Thursday, July 23, following the presentation of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Mr. Awuni said the current state of the economy represented an improvement over the previous administration’s performance.
“The first is that the economy looks healthier than it was in the previous administration. Some say the recovery started when the IMF came in, but the fact remains that even the NPP members who love Ghana would dread putting the economy back in the hands of Ken Ofori-Atta should a second chance present itself,” he wrote.
Despite acknowledging the gains, Mr. Awuni argued that the country’s economic difficulties remain significant and do not justify excessive celebration.
He noted that while budget presentations often generate optimism, they are based on projections whose implementation has historically fallen short.
“The second fact obvious to ordinary minds like mine is that Ghana’s economy is far from the ululations that greeted the Finance Minister’s reading of the mid-year budget yesterday,” he stated.
Mr. Awuni expressed concern about Ghana’s low production levels, warning that the country risks becoming overly dependent on imported goods as more foreign-owned retail businesses expand their operations.
According to him, the success of the government’s proposed 24-hour markets would be limited if the country fails to increase local production.
“The 24-hour markets, if they will succeed at all, will end up retailing what is produced elsewhere, thereby creating jobs there,” he said.
The journalist also highlighted unemployment as one of the country’s biggest economic challenges, arguing that the high demand for limited public sector jobs reflects the weak state of employment.
“Today, unemployment is the norm; getting a job is the exception,” he wrote, pointing to the recurring stampedes during recruitment exercises by the security services as evidence of the problem.
Mr. Awuni further revealed that discussions with maize and rice farmers indicated many were considering reducing production or abandoning farming altogether after suffering losses from a food glut, which they partly attributed to restrictions on grain exports.
He stressed that while the government deserves credit for stabilising parts of the economy, the country should remain focused on addressing the underlying structural weaknesses.
“I do not intend to blight the government’s bright spot. It’s not out of place to point out the modest gains made and give credit,” he said, adding that Ghana’s economy still requires substantial reforms to achieve sustainable growth and job creation.
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