Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is expected to present the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on Wednesday, November 13, sources close to the Ministry of Finance have confirmed.
The proposed date, which awaits formal approval by Parliament, will mark the first full-year budget of the Mahama administration since its return to power in 2025. The presentation is expected to outline the government’s key fiscal and development priorities for the year ahead, following nine months of managing the economy through global and domestic challenges.
Economic analysts note that the 2025 Budget, presented shortly after President Mahama’s inauguration, largely operated within the fiscal framework inherited from the previous government. The 2026 Budget, however, is expected to signal a major policy shift, reflecting the administration’s own economic agenda.
Under the Public Financial Management Act, the Finance Minister—on behalf of the President—is required to present the national budget to Parliament no later than November 15 each year.
The Finance Ministry has reportedly concluded several rounds of consultations with key stakeholders, including industry leaders, civil society organisations, and development partners. These engagements were aimed at refining the policy measures and expenditure priorities that will define the 2026 fiscal blueprint.
Dr. Forson has previously hinted that the 2026 Budget will focus heavily on job creation and economic growth, with targeted investments in sectors that can boost productivity, innovation, and youth employment.
Sources within the Ministry indicate that the document will also introduce a comprehensive tax reform agenda designed to broaden the revenue base while reducing the tax burden on households and businesses. The Finance Minister is also expected to review several levies, including the COVID-19 levy, to support business recovery and enhance consumer confidence.
With Ghana projected to exit the IMF programme in May 2026, the budget will be closely watched for its post-programme strategy. Economists and investors will be looking for clear signals on how the government plans to sustain fiscal discipline while stimulating growth and maintaining macroeconomic stability.
A central question for policymakers will be how Dr. Forson intends to balance the fiscal deficit and manage expenditure levels amid rising debt servicing costs and the need to fund critical infrastructure and social programmes.
As anticipation builds, businesses, investors, and development partners are keenly awaiting what many expect to be the defining economic policy statement of the Mahama administration’s second year in office.
