News:
November 21, 2025
Taking his turn to debate the 2026 budget, the representative for the people of Tamale North Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini pointed out that the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy has been simplified for the ordinary Ghanaian to digest.
The Finance Minister Dr Atto Forson, he stated, was very honest as far as the economy is concerned and this has been confirmed by expert economists.
According to him, the distress economy the current finance minister inherited, the 2025 budget came to restore fiscal stability and further ensured that it was sustained through introduction of reforms to ensure there is more tax compliance, especially through digital way of collecting revenues. He gave examples of the introduction of AI and tight expenditure control as well as a focus on growth-oriented spending as some of the measures, stating that resources allocation have been outlined for growth to expand the economy.
“Mr. Speaker our colleagues have exhibited hypocrisy; it is amazing watching them lament about unemployment and poverty and criticize government focus on critical infrastructure. For eight long years they were the very architect of our economic distress; they were in charge. Why has corruption become synonymous with leadership – from the Agyapa Royalties deal to the Archer Energy controversies, to the PDS scandals? Same with the COVID-19 funds of about twenty-one billon Ghana cedis, the national cathedral, they wasted about hundred million dollars, same with the sky train that never was, and the Pwalugu multi-purpose dam that never was”.
He said these developments affirmed that under the NPP, there was a master class of state capture where the resources that should have been building factories, schools, hospitals found their way into the pockets of a selected few. “So, when I watch them today lament about unemployment and poverty, it’s shocking. Kojo Oppong Nkuramah said they handed over 150 factories and that because we have canceled one district one factory office, it cannot provide the needed jobs. Was 1D1F paying the workers?’ He queried.
“If they left those factories, it should be providing jobs currently whether the office is there or not and should not affect the ruining of those factories.”
HE said the culture of corruption directly fuels unemployment and poverty, and this can be traced to them. How can jobs be created when contract sums are inflated? We were told in this country that the party needed money, he added.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com