Former Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam has described the government's 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review as a document filled with “bones and no meat.” He argues that the government has failed to present policies and programs that directly address the concerns of Ghanaians. Dr. Amin Adam, who is the Member of Parliament for Karaga and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, made these remarks on Thursday, July 24.
His comments followed Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson's presentation of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament. According to Dr. Amin Adam, the review confirmed the opposition New Patriotic Party’s earlier assessment. This assessment stated that the original budget lacked substance and did not contain enough measures to improve citizens' lives. He contended that the document contained many promises but lacked the necessary resources and practical interventions for meaningful results.
This criticism comes at a time when Ghana’s economy faces significant challenges, including high inflation and a depreciating currency. The government has been under pressure to demonstrate a clear path to economic recovery and stability. Public expectations for the budget review were high, with many hoping for concrete measures to alleviate economic hardship. The debate around the budget highlights the ongoing political discourse regarding economic management and accountability.
“This government, from what has been submitted in Parliament, can best be described as talk more, do little government,” Dr. Amin Adam stated. He added, “The review has confirmed our description of the original 2026 budget as having only bones no meat and for that matter can best be described as kwashiorkor budget.” He argued that the government’s own data, presented during the review, exposed weaknesses in its economic management. This data, he said, showed that the administration was struggling to meet expectations.
Dr. Amin Adam accused Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson of attempting to present a favorable economic picture through what he called propaganda. However, he insisted that the figures contained in the document told a different story. “The Minister tried his best to do what he does best which is propaganda but his own data gave him out and his own data showed that the honeymoon is over and they are now faced with the reality,” he explained.
The former Finance Minister further criticized the government for repeatedly blaming the previous administration. He argued that the focus should be on delivering on campaign promises. Ghanaians voted for the government to solve problems and improve living conditions, not to hear explanations about inherited challenges. “The Ghanaian people voted for them to deliver just that and not to blame the previous government but we all saw in his address, there is nothing to tell the people of Ghana,” he maintained.
The implications of this critique are significant for public confidence and political stability. The government needs to demonstrate tangible progress in addressing economic issues to regain public trust. Failure to do so could lead to increased public discontent and further political instability. Investors and international partners will also be closely watching the government's response to these criticisms and its ability to implement effective economic policies.
Dr. Amin Adam insisted that the Mid-Year Budget Review did not provide the level of detail and action required to convince citizens. He believes the government lacks a clear plan to address economic difficulties. After 18 months in office, Ghanaians expect measurable achievements, not continued accusations against the previous government. The political opposition will likely leverage these criticisms to highlight what they perceive as the government's economic mismanagement.