Mid-Year Budget Review: 'GH¢30bn in promised projects remain unexecuted' — Oppong Nkrumah

The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi and Ranking Member on Parliament's Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has accused the government of failing to execute about GH¢30 billion worth of projects, jobs and programmes captured in the 2026 budget.

Oppong Nkrumah rejected claims by government communicators that the 2026 review was the first time a Finance Minister had presented a Mid-Year Budget Review without requesting additional funds.

Contributing to debate on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on Tuesday, July 28, the former Information Minister argued that the issue of concern is not whether additional resources were requested but whether approved programmes and projects are being implemented as planned.

He said the government's under-execution of the budget has affected projects, job creation and other interventions expected to benefit citizens across the country.

"This government, this minister, made promises of projects, jobs and programmes to the tune of GH¢30 billion, which it has not executed as at half year. As at half year, they have under-executed the budget," he noted.

The Ofoase Ayirebi MP further criticised the Finance Minister's explanation that spending controls were linked to meeting the IMF-supported primary balance target, arguing that fiscal discipline should not prevent the implementation of approved government policies.

He stated that the government must focus on improving revenue mobilisation rather than reducing expenditure execution, which he said has affected sectors including agriculture, education, health and flood control.

According to the former Minister, "This is the first time a Finance Minister has presented the Mid-Year Review and has not been able to tell the country how much of the economic programme has been executed and how much has not been executed."