Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson will today, Thursday, November 13, 2025, present the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament, outlining the government’s fiscal direction, growth priorities, and spending plans for the coming year.
This year’s budget is one of the most crucial in recent memory, as Ghana prepares to exit the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme in May 2026. It is expected to serve as the blueprint for the country’s transition from IMF oversight to a homegrown, private sector-driven growth agenda.
Sources close to the Finance Ministry indicate that the budget will focus on job creation, productivity, and economic expansion through targeted investments in agriculture, manufacturing, energy, and digital innovation.
Dr. Forson is also expected to announce the removal of the COVID-19 levy, signalling a shift toward easing the tax burden on businesses and households while introducing no new taxes.
The 2026 Budget will emphasise private sector-led growth, improved access to finance, and entrepreneurship support, alongside increased recruitment in the security services and other public sectors as part of a broader strategy to reduce youth unemployment.
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In the energy sector, government plans to expand generation capacity and enhance reliability to support industrial development. It will also commit resources to strengthening national security infrastructure and re-equipping the military in the aftermath of the August 6 disaster.
Recent data show signs of economic recovery, with public debt declining from 93.3% of GDP in 2022 to 44.9% by mid-2025, inflation dropping to 8% as of October, and GDP growth doubling to 6.3% in the second quarter of 2025.
The 2026 Budget, the first full-year policy statement under President John Dramani Mahama’s renewed mandate, is expected to balance fiscal discipline with growth-focused measures that promote inclusive development, stimulate investment, and sustain macroeconomic stability.
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As Dr. Forson presents the statement, public attention will be on how government policies consolidate the gains made so far and chart a clear path toward post-IMF economic independence and long-term prosperity.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
