Member of Parliament for Sagnarigu, Atta Issah, has robustly defended Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson against accusations of failing to generate sufficient revenue and adequately manage government spending. Issah presented a detailed comparison of budget figures during a parliamentary debate on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review on Tuesday, July 26, 2026.
Issah directly addressed criticisms from the Minority, who claimed Dr. Ato Forson was underperforming. He highlighted that in 2017, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government targeted GHS 44.96 billion in revenue but collected GHS 41.25 billion, resulting in a GHS 3.71 billion shortfall. In 2018, the revenue target was missed by GHS 2.59 billion, and this shortfall expanded to GHS 4.34 billion in 2019.
By contrast, Issah stated that the current administration budgeted to raise GHS 229.95 billion in 2025 and achieved GHS 226.49 billion. This represents a revenue gap of GHS 3.46 billion, which is smaller than the shortfalls recorded in 2017 and 2019 under the previous government. This comparison aims to demonstrate that the current Finance Minister's revenue performance is not unprecedentedly poor.
Issah also challenged assertions that the Finance Minister had failed to spend adequately to drive development. He compared expenditure execution rates, noting that the NPP recorded rates of 94.5% in 2017, 95.7% in 2018, and 96.5% in 2019. Dr. Ato Forson, he stated, achieved an execution rate of 94.4% in 2025, indicating a comparable level of spending efficiency.
The Sagnarigu MP further argued that the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) assessment of Ghana's fiscal performance under the previous administration did not support the Minority's claims. He recalled that the IMF described Ghana's 2017 revenue performance as "moderate" and expenditure execution as "restrained." The IMF assigned the country's overall fiscal performance an "amber" rating, citing concerns over capital spending and arrears during that period.
Issah also criticised the Akufo-Addo administration's borrowing record, claiming the previous government accumulated debt at an unprecedented pace. He stated that the NPP added GHS 47.4 billion to the national debt in 2021, GHS 84.5 billion in 2022, and GHS 116 billion in 2024. He asserted that President Akufo-Addo holds the record for borrowing more than all previous presidents combined since Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
The lawmaker insisted that the current government's economic performance should be evaluated based on improvements in price stability and fiscal management. He argued that the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review demonstrates that the economy is on a clear path to recovery. This defense comes amidst ongoing political debate regarding Ghana's economic trajectory and the effectiveness of current fiscal policies.
The debate highlights the deep partisan divisions in assessing Ghana's economic health. The Minority's focus on current revenue shortfalls and spending levels is countered by the government's allies who point to historical data for context. Future economic reports and independent assessments will be crucial in providing a clearer picture of Ghana's fiscal standing and the effectiveness of the current administration's policies.