The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has criticised the Government’s 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, arguing that it fails to deliver on promises of jobs, productivity, and transformation.
The Caucus branded the budget a “Galamsey Budget,” describing it as “growthless, jobless and minimalist,” accused the government of offering only “cosmetic rhetoric,” while “crawling” through economic challenges.
During a press conference at Parliament House in Accra on Friday, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Member of Parliament for Karaga and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, said the budget lacked adequate investment in productive sectors, relied on overly optimistic revenue projections, and downplayed key fiscal risks.
The Caucus added that the flagship programmes were presented without transparency or clear costing.
Dr Adam remarked:
“The Government chose to present even more half-baked policy ideas packaged as transformative initiatives. As a result, we look set to endure another year of fiscal indiscipline, masked as prudence, despite the economic evidence demanding a change in approach. What we need is economic transformation, which Ghanaians were promised; but what we see now is economic stagnation masquerading as progress.”
The Caucus observed that the government’s economic decline had been disguised as development, hence the 2026 budget does not offer the hope of economic transformation, jobs, and prosperity for Ghanaians.
In a related development, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has cast doubt on the government’s “one job, three shift” system under the 24-Hour Economy.
While commenting on the presentation of the 2026 Budget Statement by Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, Mr Afenyo-Markin questioned the credibility of the 24-Hour Economy Policy to provide a solution to Ghana’s unemployment crisis.
Mr Afenyo-Markin, Member of Parliament for Effutu, criticised the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy initiative, which promised to create jobs by introducing a rotational system where one job is shared across three shifts.
According to him, the policy lacked clarity and fails to demonstrate how it would generate new employment opportunities rather than simply redistributing existing ones.
He argued that the government’s presentation of the budget offered little detail on how the initiative would be implemented, especially in sectors where continuous operations may not be feasible.
“The idea of one job being split into three shifts does not equate to three jobs,” he noted, stressing that such an approach risks being a cosmetic fix rather than a substantive employment strategy.
Ghana continues to grapple with high youth unemployment, with thousands of graduates entering the job market annually.
The government has touted the 24-Hour Economy as a transformative policy to address this challenge, suggesting that round-the-clock operations in industries such as manufacturing, transport, and retail could expand opportunities for the teeming Ghanaian youth.
However, Mr Afenyo-Markin questioned whether the policy would truly absorb the growing labour force, pointing out that without new investments, infrastructure expansion, and private sector incentives, the initiative risked becoming a slogan rather than a practical solution.
The Minority Leader also criticised the government for failing to provide Parliament with comprehensive policy documents on the 24-Hour Economy and other flagship programmes.
He emphasised that parliamentary oversight was undermined when such initiatives were announced without detailed frameworks, making it difficult to assess their viability. This lack of transparency, he warned, could erode public confidence in the government’s ability to deliver on its promises.
The debate over the 24-Hour Economy reflects broader concerns about Ghana’s economic direction. While the government projects GH¢268.1 billion in total revenue and grants for 2026, representing an 18.3 per cent increase over 2025, critics argued that ambitious revenue targets must be matched with credible job creation strategies.
—GNA
🔗 Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
🌍 Trusted News. Real Stories. Anytime, Anywhere.
✅ Join our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
