By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Ministry of Finance has held a two-day stakeholder consultation as part of preparations for the 2026 Annual Budget, scheduled for presentation to Parliament in November 2025.
The consultation aimed to solicit input from key economic sectors and enhance public participation in Ghana’s budget formulation process, in line with Section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuous stakeholder engagement throughout the budget cycle. He referenced the Ministry’s outreach to Makola Market ahead of the 2025 Budget as part of efforts to obtain feedback from citizens and businesses directly affected by fiscal policy.
“Today’s engagement provides an avenue for government to listen to your perspectives, proposals, and expectations as we shape the 2026 Budget. The insights gathered from stakeholders will guide us in designing policies that promote growth, equity, and resilience,” Mr. Ampem said.
He noted that recent macroeconomic indicators point to steady progress in Ghana’s economic recovery, highlighting key achievements including:
A primary balance surplus of 1.4% of GDP
A reduction in the overall fiscal deficit to 1.5%
A decline in public debt to 44.9% of GDP
Mr. Ampem further cited Ghana’s successful staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the credit rating upgrade by Moody’s as evidence of restored investor confidence in the country’s economic management.
He emphasized that the 2026 Budget would focus on sustaining macroeconomic stability while driving inclusive development through investments in infrastructure, education, social protection, and job creation.
“Our objective is to consolidate the gains achieved so far and build a resilient economy that creates opportunities for all Ghanaians,” he said.
The Ministry of Finance assured that feedback from the consultation would inform fiscal policy priorities and spending decisions in the upcoming Budget, underscoring government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and participatory governance.
