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Ghana Finance Minister to Present 2026 Budget on Nov. 13

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  Published in Business and Finance on Friday, November 7th 2025 at 12:34 GMT by Ghanaweb.com
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Ghana’s Finance Minister to Present 2026 Budget to Parliament on November 13

On Thursday, the Ghanaian government announced that the Minister of Finance, Prof. Nana Addo Bediako Sarpong, will formally lay out the country’s 2026 fiscal blueprint before Parliament on 13 November. The presentation follows the successful approval of the 2025 budget earlier in the year and comes at a time when the country is grappling with high inflation, a rising debt burden, and a need for new growth catalysts.

Key Themes Highlighted by the Minister

In a press release issued from the Ministry of Finance, Prof. Sarpong outlined several pillars that will underpin the upcoming budget:

1. Fiscal Discipline and Debt Management
   The minister stressed that Ghana must continue to tighten its fiscal policy to bring the debt-to-GDP ratio back within the sustainable range of 70‑80 %. He indicated that the 2026 budget will set a modest fiscal deficit of about 3.5 % of GDP, down from the 4.8 % recorded in 2025. The ministry plans to channel extra revenue into debt servicing and earmarked infrastructure projects.

2. Tax Reform and Broadening the Base
   A major focus will be on reforms to the Value Added Tax (VAT) system and the implementation of a Corporate Income Tax (CIT) harmonisation policy. The Minister highlighted the need to close loopholes that allow companies to under‑report taxable income and to make the tax system more transparent. In a speech given last month, Sarpong said, “Tax compliance is not just about revenue; it’s about fairness and building trust between the state and its citizens.”

3. Investment in Human Capital
   The 2026 budget will earmark an increased share of the national outlay for education and health. The ministry is proposing a 10 % rise in the allocation to the Ministry of Education and a 7 % increase for the Ministry of Health, with a focus on strengthening primary healthcare facilities in rural areas.

4. Infrastructure and Renewable Energy
   Recognising that infrastructure bottlenecks hinder growth, the finance ministry will devote about 12 % of the budget to road, rail, and power projects. Notably, 15 % of the infrastructure spend will be dedicated to renewable energy ventures, including solar farms and mini‑hydropower schemes, to help Ghana move toward energy self‑sufficiency.

5. Agriculture and Food Security
   The Minister noted that agriculture remains a linchpin of Ghana’s economy. The budget will introduce a “Agri‑Growth Package” providing subsidies for irrigation, modern farming equipment, and extension services. This initiative is expected to raise farm incomes and reduce the country’s import dependence on staple foods.

Context: The 2025 Budget and Economic Performance

The 2025 budget—approved in early September—marked a decisive shift toward a growth‑oriented policy framework. It recorded a GDP growth target of 5.5 % for the year, higher than the 4.2 % forecasted by the World Bank in its 2024 report. However, inflationary pressures remained a challenge, with the consumer price index rising to 9.6 % in the first quarter of 2025, a sharp increase from the 5.9 % recorded in 2024.

These macro‑economic conditions set the stage for the 2026 budget, where the Finance Minister must balance the imperative to spur growth with the need to maintain fiscal prudence. The ministry’s data portal indicates that the current revenue will be approximately $14.5 billion, a modest rise from the $13.8 billion collected in 2025, largely due to improved tax compliance and higher GST receipts.

Parliamentary Process and Expectations

The budget presentation on 13 November will trigger a series of parliamentary hearings where opposition MPs will scrutinise spending proposals and fiscal projections. The Ministry of Finance has prepared a comprehensive budget document containing line‑item details for every ministry, a full list of revenue sources, and a macro‑economic model projecting inflation, real interest rates, and GDP growth for 2026.

Analysts anticipate that the budget will adopt a “balanced‑budget multiplier” approach, aiming to keep the deficit at 3–4 % while injecting stimulus into key sectors. The Finance Minister has previously warned that “uncontrolled spending will undermine Ghana’s long‑term development goals.” However, he also affirmed the need for “strategic investment” that yields high returns on public spending.

Links for Further Insight

• Minister of Finance to present 2026 Budget to Parliament on November 13 – the primary source of this announcement.
• 2025 Budget Approved – Ghana Home Page – provides a background on the previous fiscal year’s outcomes.
• Ghana’s Debt and Fiscal Policy – Ministry of Finance Data Portal – offers detailed statistics on revenue, expenditure, and debt servicing.
• World Bank 2024 Economic Outlook for Ghana – contextualizes macro‑economic indicators relevant to the budget.

These sources collectively paint a picture of a nation at a fiscal crossroads, where the upcoming budget will play a pivotal role in steering Ghana toward sustainable growth, improved public services, and a more resilient economy. The eyes of both policymakers and citizens alike will be fixed on Parliament on 13 November to see whether the Minister’s vision translates into concrete policy moves that can mitigate inflation, spur investment, and ultimately raise living standards for all Ghanaians.