Ahead of the presentation of Ghana’s 2027 Budget Statement by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on Thursday, 12 November 2026, the Centre for Economic Research and Policy Analysis (CERPA) has issued a comprehensive five-point policy framework to guide the nation’s fiscal planning for the coming year.
The recommendations stem from a pre-budget survey of 318 respondents conducted between 30 October and 10 November 2026, which revealed that citizens overwhelmingly want public policy focused on daily economic realities.
The pre-budget survey findings show that 74.2% of respondents identified either job creation (39.9%) or reducing living costs (34.3%) as their single top budget priority. In contrast, traditional fiscal issues like public debt management (2.8%) and domestic revenue mobilization (4.1%) received low public interest.
To align macroeconomic progress with actual household welfare, CERPA outlined five actionable recommendations for government consideration.
Prioritise Job Creation Through Enterprise and Local Production
CERPA recommends that the 2027 Budget establish explicit employment targets focused on supporting small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), affordable credit, and local production. This proposal directly addresses survey findings showing that self-employed business owners face severe economic strain, with 44.2% reporting worsened finances over the past year.
Because citizens view private-sector enterprise expansion as the primary engine for youth job creation, fiscal policy must actively empower local businesses.
Ease the Cost of Essentials
Rather than focusing solely on headline inflation, which dropped to 5.5% in October 2026, CERPA advises targeted policy interventions for key price pressure points. The study revealed that daily living expenses remain exceptionally high for ordinary families, with transport prices jumping 8.0% in October alone.
CERPA urges policymakers to deliver direct price relief for essential household expenses, particularly transport, fuel, and utility tariffs.
Link Macroeconomic Targets to Household Outcomes
To connect fiscal targets with daily life, CERPA proposes that every major macroeconomic goal in the 2027 Budget be paired with specific household outcomes and realistic timelines. Survey evidence highlights that citizens measure economic stability through tangible improvements in jobs, prices, and household incomes rather than paper growth.
Explicitly linking national macro stability to family welfare will strengthen public trust and policy understanding.
Improve Tax Efficiency and Fairness
Addressing public sentiment on taxation, CERPA recommends broadening the tax base and improving spending quality instead of introducing new tax rates or levies.
Findings indicated split opinions on tax levels but broad concern over government waste, with 22.1% of respondents demanding decisive action against corruption and inefficient public expenditure. Enhancing tax compliance and fiscal discipline ensures fairer revenue collection.
Strengthen Transparency, Accountability, and Delivery Reporting
Finally, CERPA advocates for robust accountability mechanisms, including published performance indicators and regular public progress reporting for all flagship government programs.
With 22.1% of citizens emphasizing governance and financial integrity, CERPA notes that budget credibility will depend on transparent project implementation and verifiable public delivery throughout the fiscal year.
