Former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Damongo Samuel Abdulai Jinapor has sharply criticized the government’s 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, describing it as a disappointing repetition of the 2025 Budget Statement that failed to address the pressing concerns of Ghanaians.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament after Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson presented the review, the Damongo MP said he had expected the minister to provide clear updates on key economic challenges, particularly unemployment, the rising cost of living, and the implementation of major policy commitments announced in the 2025 Budget.

According to Mr Jinapor, the review was silent on flagship initiatives such as the proposed Women’s Development Bank, the Oil Palm Development Programme, industrialization policies, and the government’s much-publicized 24-hour economy agenda.

He argued that the purpose of a mid-year budget review is to account for the implementation of commitments made in the annual budget and to update Parliament and the public on the progress of those policies. However, he said the Finance Minister failed to provide any meaningful assessment of how the 2025 Budget has been executed.

Mr Jinapor further claimed that the implementation of the 2025 Budget has stalled, citing what he described as a significant shortfall in government expenditure. He stated that although the government had planned to spend GH¢90 billion, only about GH¢60 billion had been spent, representing a deficit of nearly 30 percent.

He described the situation as the poorest budget execution since 2016, arguing that the spending gap has contributed to the liquidity challenges confronting the economy.

According to the former minister, the government’s inability to fully implement its budget explains why many Ghanaians continue to complain about the lack of money in circulation, increasing unemployment, and the high cost of living.

Mr Jinapor maintained that the mid-year budget review failed to inspire confidence, insisting that Ghanaians deserved a comprehensive account of the government’s economic promises and their implementation rather than what he called a repetition of previous budget statements.