Ghana’s economic recovery, marked by improved macroeconomic indicators, will ultimately be judged by transparent government spending and better living conditions for citizens, according to public-finance accountability organization BudgIT Ghana. The group welcomed progress shown in the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review but stressed that attention must shift from policy announcements to implementation and accountability.
BudgIT Ghana specifically calls for the government to publish detailed information on funded projects. This includes project locations, individual costs, awarded companies, and implementation levels. The organization argues that citizens must be able to independently verify how public money is spent, moving beyond aggregate expenditure figures.
This demand for transparency comes as Ghana navigates a broader economic recovery following a severe fiscal and debt crisis. The country experienced high inflation, currency depreciation, and declining purchasing power. While headline economic stabilization is positive, its impact on household welfare remains a critical concern for many Ghanaians.
Jennifer A. Moffatt, Country Manager of BudgIT Ghana, acknowledged the encouraging progress in Ghana’s macroeconomic recovery journey. She cited important improvements, including a reduction in the debt-to-GDP ratio to about 45.00%, inflation of 5.30%, first-quarter real GDP growth of 6.40%, and gross international reserves of approximately US$12.90 billion, equivalent to five months of import cover. These figures represent significant milestones in rebuilding economic confidence.
BudgIT stresses that stronger macroeconomic indicators should not be an end in themselves. The true measure of recovery, it argues, is whether households experience improvements in the affordability of goods and services, infrastructure provision, and the quality of public services. This distinction is crucial for citizens who endured the recent economic hardships.
Implementation and accountability must become the focus of the next recovery phase. BudgIT identifies public procurement as a critical area. The organization welcomed the Public Procurement Authority Amendment Act but emphasized that its effectiveness depends on mandatory use of approved digital platforms. BudgIT advocates for the compulsory use of the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS) and the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) across all government entities.
Procurement processes conducted outside these approved digital systems weaken transparency. They reduce public oversight and create opportunities for inefficiency and financial irregularities, BudgIT warned. The organization recommends sanctions for institutions that deliberately bypass these systems under Ghana’s public financial-management framework. Digital systems alone cannot improve governance unless officials are required to use them and violations carry consequences.
This principle is particularly important as the government scales up infrastructure expenditure. BudgIT expressed strong concern regarding the Big Push Programme, on which about GHS 6.5 billion has already been spent. While this figure indicates implementation progress, BudgIT argues that an aggregate expenditure number does not provide sufficient information for meaningful public oversight. Citizens should be able to identify individual projects financed by this GHS 6.5 billion.
BudgIT is therefore calling for quarterly implementation reports. These reports should contain downloadable project-level information, including names, locations, approved budgets, and procurement details. Such transparency is vital for ensuring public funds are used effectively and accountably for the benefit of all Ghanaians.