'We won't praise you for this uninspiring, same old story' — Minority Leader on Mid-Year Budget Review
Minority Leader Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin has criticised the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
In the review presented to Parliament on Thursday, July 23, the Finance Minister said the economy had recovered significantly under the Mahama administration.
He cited lower inflation, a stable cedi, improved growth, declining debt levels and increased tax revenue despite the abolition of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) and other taxes.
The Minister also announced a GH¢400 million allocation to procure buses for state-owned transport companies and maintained that the government's recovery was the result of what he described as superior economic management.
Dr Ato Forson further revealed that about 950,000 Ghanaians had moved out of multidimensional poverty within a year.
He further declared that the economy had moved "from the emergency room to the wellness center," and assured Parliament that the gains would be consolidated through a new economic transformation agenda.
Responding after the presentation, Osahen Afenyo-Markin argued that the budget review lacked fresh policy direction and failed to address challenges confronting key sectors, including cocoa, healthcare and job creation.
"This review is uninspiring. There is no inspiration... We will not praise you. It is the same old story," he said.
The Minority Leader criticised the government for what he described as excessive spending on the 24-hour economy initiative while, according to him, neglecting critical projects such as Agenda 111 hospitals.
He also questioned the Finance Minister's management of the cocoa sector and the Gold-for-Reserves programme, claiming policy decisions had resulted in avoidable financial losses.
"We are not interested in the books. We are interested in the economy in our pockets. People are suffering. People need jobs," said the Minority Leader.