The Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Economy and Development, Eric Afful, has indicated that the upcoming mid‑year budget review will adhere to the GH₵293 billion appropriation set in March, with no new funding requests expected.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is slated to present the mid‑year statement to Parliament on Thursday, July 24.
Speaking toJoyNews‘ Parliamentary correspondent, Kwaku Asante, Mr Afful stated that the Mid-year budget to be read by the Finance Minister will take the form of a statement rather than a motion, as there will be no call for additional funds.
“The investigation I’ve done so far is that the government will not come to the House to ask for additional funds,” he said.
“We are going to stay within the appropriation of 293 billion that was programmed to execute the 2025 budget. For that matter, the presentation will be done through a statement, not through a motion.”
Mr Afful added that the mid-year budget review will focus on reviewing key flagship programs, particularly the GH₵10.3 billion “Big Push” initiative and the GH₵32 billion allocation for capital expenditure.
However, the Minority New Patriotic Party MPs have urged the Finance Minister to use the budget review to demonstrate real economic control.
The NPP Kpandai MP, Mathew Nyindam, criticised the pacing of spending under Dr. Forson’s leadership, saying, “Contractors have not been paid. Even ministries have not been given their allocations. So if you are holding on to the money, obviously the currency will be doing better against the major currencies like the dollar.”
“So until he begins to spend and begins to give the ministries money to spend, then we can then be measuring output. … It is only when the ministers are getting their allocations, they are getting their money, that the economy will begin to grow and grow well,” he added.
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