The Ministry of Finance has begun stakeholder consultations ahead of Ghana’s 2026 National Budget, signalling a renewed push toward private sector-led growth, job creation, and sustainable fiscal recovery.
The two-day pre-budget engagement brought together banking and non-banking financial institutions, academia, think tanks, and professional bodies, in line with Section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, which mandates broad consultations before budget formulation.
Deputy Minister for Finance Mr. Thomas Nyarko Ampem, who led the discussions, said the exercise was part of government’s strategy to make the 2026 Budget an “inclusive national document” that reflects the aspirations of all economic actors.
“We recognise the importance of engaging all relevant stakeholders so that the final budget presented to Parliament is one we can all own, implement, and be proud of,” he said.
Anchoring Growth in Collaboration
The consultations, according to the Ministry, are designed to align fiscal priorities with private sector realities, ensuring that economic policies translate into tangible opportunities for businesses and citizens.
Mr. Ampem noted that insights gathered from these engagements would directly inform decisions on resource allocation, policy design, and growth priorities across critical sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, and social development.
He also pointed out that similar stakeholder engagements held during the preparation of the 2025 Budget contributed significantly to Ghana’s current macroeconomic turnaround, helping shape policies that drove stability and renewed investor confidence.
From Stabilisation to Expansion
Ghana’s economy has recorded key improvements this year including a primary balance surplus of 1.4% of GDP, a fiscal deficit of 1.5%, and public debt at 46.8% as of August 2025.
Inflation has eased to 9.4%, while treasury bill rates have fallen by 1,300 basis points, supported by the appreciation of the cedi and improved sovereign credit ratings.
“These achievements are not ends in themselves,” Mr. Ampem emphasised, “but foundations for sustained recovery and shared prosperity.”
He revealed that the 2026 Budget, expected in November, would focus on sustainable economic stabilisation, fiscal discipline, infrastructure expansion, and social equity, with a strong emphasis on youth employment and skills development.
Investing in Real Sectors
The Deputy Minister disclosed that the government plans to more than double funding for road infrastructure, with over 60 road projects currently underway nationwide. Increased allocations are also expected for healthcare, education, and social protection, particularly programmes targeting vulnerable groups.
“The 2026 Budget will mark the next phase of Ghana’s recovery, moving from stabilisation to expansion,” Mr. Ampem said. “Our focus is on productivity, resilience, and opportunity creation.”
Shared Prosperity Through Partnership
Economists and development experts present at the engagement commended the Ministry for maintaining dialogue with key stakeholders, noting that such consultations help build trust, enhance policy coherence, and strengthen fiscal transparency.
Financial institutions also underscored the need for government to maintain its fiscal discipline trajectory while accelerating payment to contractors, streamlining taxes, and supporting SMEs to drive inclusive growth.
As the Finance Ministry prepares to table the budget before Parliament in November, expectations remain high that the 2026 fiscal plan will balance macroeconomic prudence with inclusive development, paving the way for long-term stability and broad-based prosperity.
“The government remains steadfast in building a resilient economy that delivers opportunity for all Ghanaians,” Mr. Ampem affirmed.
