2026 Budget designed to drive productivity, consolidate stability – Dr. Theo Acheampong

Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Theo Acheampong, says the 2026 Budget Statement has been deliberately structured to consolidate ongoing reforms and boost productivity as Ghana transitions into a new phase of economic rebuilding.

Speaking on Citi FM’s The Big Issue on Saturday, November 15, following the presentation of the 2026 Budget to Parliament, Dr. Acheampong said recent economic turbulence made it necessary for the government to “fundamentally” reset the economy and strengthen structural reforms.

“We have come from a particular place—a place where the severe challenges we had with the economy, particularly over the 2022–2023 period and into 2024, had to be fundamentally addressed,” he noted. “What the budget has sought to do is really anchor and drive some of the reforms that have been started and also use that for enhanced productivity.”

He explained that the 2026 Budget aims to restore confidence, stabilise key macroeconomic indicators, and position the economy for long-term, sustainable growth.

Referencing the Finance Minister’s statement to Parliament, Dr. Acheampong highlighted three strategic priorities that will guide government policy into 2026 and beyond:

• Consolidating macroeconomic stability
• Accelerating transformation and job creation
• Strengthening security and the social sectors for inclusive growth

These priorities align with Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s broader message when he presented the 2026 Budget and Economic Policy under the theme:
“Resetting for Growth, Jobs, and Economic Transformation.”

Dr. Forson described the budget as marking a transition from “recovery to transformation, from resilience to productivity, and from stability to jobs.” He pointed to restored fiscal discipline, a stronger cedi, slowing inflation, and renewed investor confidence as signs of a national economic rebound.

“Confidence is returning. The Black Star is rising once more. Ghana is back—strong, stable, and full of hope,” Dr. Forson declared.

The budget places emphasis on responsible debt management, infrastructure expansion, agricultural modernisation, improved education and healthcare, and enhanced national security. Parliament also received several statutory reports and key legislative instruments, including the Value for Money Bill, proposed amendments to the VAT Act, and the repeal of the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy.

Dr. Acheampong concluded that the next phase of Ghana’s economic journey will depend heavily on effective implementation of these reforms to convert macroeconomic stability into higher productivity, stronger public institutions, and broad-based economic transformation.