The Member of Parliament for Manso Nkwanta, Tweneboah Fokuo, has accused the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson of failing to provide sufficient context and clarity on the figures and indicators cited in the 2025 Mid-year Budget Review statement.
Speaking to media on Saturday, July 26, he expressed concern that the review lacked transparency in linking economic improvements to real policy actions.
“The budget was overly optimistic. No credence was given to the previous administration that set the pace, and no acknowledgement of the global economic challenges that have impacted us. It didn’t unpack the issues for Ghanaians to understand why the figures came out the way they did,” he said.
He added that while the government touted improved macroeconomic indicators, the review failed to explain how those gains were achieved.
“They were presented as if they were the results of recent interventions, but that is contrary. I believe yes, we have seen good numbers, but the Ministry should help Ghanaians understand how we got here.”
Mr. Fokuo’s comments come in the wake of the government’s presentation of the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review, during which Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson outlined several key developments, including the government’s intervention in the National Investment Bank (NIB) and payroll reforms.
One of the highlights of the Mid-Year Budget review was the government’s decision to recapitalise NIB, a move he said saved over 900 jobs.
The Finance Minister also disclosed that efforts are underway to address payroll fraud in the public sector. According to him, over 14,000 ghost names have been identified on the government payroll, and payroll validators who facilitated the inclusion of these names will be held accountable.
Despite these announcements, opposition MPs like Tweneboah Fokuo insist that the budget presentation lacked depth and did not acknowledge the foundation laid by previous administrations or the complexity of the current economic environment.
