By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, July 23, GNA – The Government has rejected claims of underspending, saying it has met major spending commitments while maintaining fiscal discipline and supporting Ghana’s economic recovery.
The expenditure, it said, covered compensation, debt servicing, education, health, agriculture, infrastructure and social protection in line with the 2026 Budget.
Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament on Thursday, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister for Finance, said the Government had consistently adhered to the principle of spending only available resources and ensuring value for money.
He said, contrary to public perception, substantial resources had been deployed across priority sectors to protect livelihoods, strengthen infrastructure and sustain economic stability.
Dr Forson said GH¢48.8 billion had been paid as compensation to public sector workers, including GH¢4 billion in contributions to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Tier Two Pension Scheme.
He said the Government had also paid GH¢21.5 billion in domestic interest, US$700 million towards Eurobond debt service and interest, and GH¢10 billion to domestic bondholders.
The Minister said GH¢11.5 billion had been released for capital expenditure, comprising GH¢6.5 billion under the Big Push Infrastructure Programme, GH¢1.7 billion to the Road Maintenance Trust Fund and GH¢7.1 billion to support stable electricity supply.
He said GH¢4.4 billion had been transferred to the District Assemblies Common Fund, GH¢4.5 billion released to the National Health Insurance Scheme and GH¢1.1 billion allocated to the MahamaCares programme.
In the education sector, Dr Forson said GH¢4.2 billion had been transferred to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), GH¢1.8 billion released to the Free Secondary Education Programme and GH¢915 million provided for goods and services under the Ministry of Education, including sanitary pads.
“Government had also disbursed GH¢76 million as Capitation Grant, GH¢46 million for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) registration, GH¢537 million under the No Fees Stress Policy, GH¢104 million as Teacher Trainee Allowance and GH¢144 million as Nursing Trainee Allowance,” he added.
On social protection, the Minister said GH¢485 million had been paid to beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme and GH¢877 million allocated to the Ghana School Feeding Programme.
He said GH¢459 million had been released to the Youth Employment Agency, GH¢93 million paid as Assembly Members’ Allowance and GH¢45 million invested in the National Apprenticeship Programme.
In the agriculture sector, Dr Forson said GH¢1.1 billion had been released for flagship programmes, including the National Food Buffer Stock Company, fertiliser and certified seed distribution, Feed Ghana and irrigation projects, while an additional GH¢551 million had been lodged in an escrow account to establish a letter of credit for Farmer Service Centres.
He said the Government had also paid GH¢961 million to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, GH¢458 million to the Mineral Development Fund and GH¢477.4 million to the Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP) initiative.
Dr Forson said GH¢58 million had been released to support Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and GH¢16 million to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat to combat illegal mining.
He said approximately GH¢7.9 billion had been spent on goods and services to support Government operations, while GH¢5.3 billion had been used to clear legacy arrears inherited by the administration.
Dr Forson recalled that before the current administration assumed office, Ghana had faced a rapidly depreciating cedi, inflation above 50 per cent, a junk sovereign credit rating and loss of access to international capital markets.
He said the Government’s prudent expenditure strategy was aimed at consolidating the economic recovery, protecting vulnerable households and laying a strong foundation for sustainable growth.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Morkporkpor Anku
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