Accra, Ghana – The Minority in Parliament has formally responded to the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy presented by Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, on March 11, 2025.
At a press conference held on March 13, 2025, the Minority, represented by Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, accused the government of manipulating fiscal data to present a negative picture of the economy inherited from the previous administration.
Dr. Adam stated that the government’s claim of a fiscal deficit of 7.6% of GDP and a primary deficit of 3.6% of GDP is inaccurate, citing the inclusion of GHs49.2 billion in expenditure claims without proper verification or audit.
The Minority also expressed concern over the government’s projection of a lower growth rate of 4.4% for 2025, despite the previous year’s growth rate of 5.7%. Dr. Adam questioned the government’s decision to project a lower growth rate, given the hype surrounding their “Big Push Infrastructure Programme” costing GHs13.8 billion.
Furthermore, the Minority criticized the government’s failure to provide details on their 24-hour economy initiative, which was a key campaign promise. Dr. Adam noted that the budget does not allocate funds for the initiative, leaving Ghanaians to wait until 2026 for its implementation.
The Minority also raised concerns over the government’s expenditure projections, particularly the decision to uncap transfers to statutory funds, which they argue is not a new measure.
In conclusion, the Minority called on the IMF to scrutinize the government’s fiscal data and projections, citing concerns over the credibility of the 2025 budget numbers.
