By: Ibrahim Issah]
In his presentation of the 2026 Budget Statement to Parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson declared that the government has “restored fiscal discipline, brought inflation under control, stabilised the cedi and rekindled investor confidence.”
The minister highlighted a series of macroeconomic gains: the fiscal deficit was trimmed to 3.2 % of GDP, headline inflation fell from a peak of 13.8 % in early 2025 to 7.4 % in October, and the Ghana cedi has appreciated by about 6 % against the US dollar since the start of the fiscal year. He attributed these results to tighter spending controls, improved revenue mobilisation and a “prudent” debt‑management strategy.
Majority Leader praised the “bold steps” and said the budget sets a “clear path to sustainable growth.”
Minority Leader cautioned that “the test will be in implementation,” noting that inflation remains above the Bank of Ghana’s target and that the cedi’s gains could be fragile without structural reforms.
Business community welcomed the stability but urged further tax relief for SMEs to translate confidence into investment.
The budget also earmarks GH¢12 billion for infrastructure, GH¢3 billion for social protection and a new “Digital Jobs Initiative” aimed at creating 200,000 positions over the next three years. Parliament is expected to debate the proposals over the coming weeks as the country watches whether the fiscal consolidation will translate into lasting economic momentum.
