The government has announced plans to leverage recent macroeconomic gains to significantly expand infrastructure investment, particularly in the roads sector, as part of its 2026 budget strategy to sustain economic recovery and promote inclusive growth.
Mr. Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Deputy Minister of Finance, said the upcoming budget would more than double the allocation for road infrastructure projects, a move aimed at boosting productivity, facilitating trade, and enhancing national connectivity.
Speaking at a stakeholder consultation in Accra ahead of the 2026 budget presentation, Mr. Ampem emphasised that the government’s macroeconomic recovery efforts were yielding results that now provided room for increased development spending.
“The government remains steadfast in sustaining the momentum of economic recovery and building a resilient economy that delivers opportunity for all Ghanaians,” he said.
According to the Deputy Minister, more than 60 road projects have already been initiated across various regions to open up rural and urban economies.
He noted that enhanced infrastructure investment was central to job creation and economic inclusion, stressing that efficient transport systems were key enablers for trade, logistics, and industrial growth.
Mr. Ampem explained that the government’s ability to scale up capital expenditure in 2026 was anchored on strong macroeconomic fundamentals recorded over the past year.
He cited a primary balance surplus of 1.4 percent of GDP, a reduction in the fiscal deficit to 1.5 percent, and a decline in public debt to 46.8 percent of GDP as of August 2025, achievements that signal prudent fiscal management.
Inflation has dropped sharply to 9.4 percent, down from over 20 percent the previous year, while Treasury bill rates have fallen by 1,300 basis points, reducing the cost of government borrowing.
The Ghana cedi has also appreciated significantly, stabilising the exchange rate and lowering import costs for construction materials and equipment.
“These achievements are not mere statistics,” Mr. Ampem said. “They provide real fiscal space to direct resources into productive sectors that improve livelihoods.”
He added that Ghana’s upgraded sovereign outlook by credit rating agencies such as Moody’s and Fitch reflected renewed investor confidence, while the ongoing IMF-supported programme had strengthened policy credibility.
The Deputy Minister highlighted that the 2026 budget would not only prioritise infrastructure but also enhance social spending in healthcare, education, and social protection to ensure equitable development outcomes.
“Our focus areas include economic stabilisation and fiscal discipline, infrastructure and social development, social protection, education and youth empowerment as well as employment creation,” he said.
The government, he said, recognised that sustained development required a dual approach, expanding infrastructure to spur growth while investing in people to secure long-term prosperity.
Mr. Ampem underscored the importance of inclusive policymaking, noting that consultations with key stakeholders, including the financial sector, civil society, academia, and private businesses were guiding the design of the 2026 budget.
“Today’s engagement provides an avenue for government to listen to your perspectives, your proposals, and your expectations as we shape the 2026 budget,” he told participants.
The consultation process, he explained, is in line with Article 179 (1) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), which require broad stakeholder input in the national budget process.
Expected to be presented to Parliament in November 2025, the 2026 budget will focus heavily on job creation and private sector-led growth.
