2026 budget is Ghana's worst performing since 2016 — Abu Jinapor

The Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has described the government's implementation of the 2026 Budget and Economic Policy as the worst-performing budget since 2016.

According to the former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the government has failed to spend more than GH¢30 billion in planned expenditure, leaving several promised projects unexecuted and worsening the economic challenges facing Ghanaians.

Reacting to the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in a social media post on Wednesday, July 29, Abu Jinapor argued that the Finance Minister's presentation failed to adequately address the country's rising cost of living and unemployment.

"On Thursday, 23rd July 2026, following the presentation of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament, I expressed my disappointment that the Hon. Finance Minister failed to adequately address the two issues weighing most heavily on the minds of Ghanaians today: the rising cost of living crisis and unemployment," his post read in part.

The Damongo MP further noted that the Mid-Year Budget Review focused largely on repeating commitments made in the 2025 Budget instead of providing a comprehensive account of the implementation of the 2026 Budget as required under the Public Financial Management Act.

He contended that the limited update on flagship initiatives, including the government's 24-hour economy policy, reflected weak implementation of the budget.

"The figures presented also indicated that as against planned expenditure of GH¢158 billion, Government spent only GH¢127 billion, a shortfall of over GH¢30 billion and about 20% below target. This is therefore Ghana's worst performing budget since 2016," argued the MP.

Abu Jinapor argued that the expenditure shortfall confirms concerns that liquidity in the economy has declined and has left many households struggling under persistent economic hardship and high living costs.

He stressed that beyond the macroeconomic data presented in Parliament, Ghanaians were looking for jobs, opportunities and tangible improvements in their standard of living, insisting that the Mid-Year Budget Review failed to respond to those expectations.