By Ashiadey Dotse
Ghana’s Parliament has approved a GHC68.13 billion Mini-Budget to fund government operations for the first quarter of 2025. The approval followed a presentation by Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam on January 2, 2025, and subsequent review by the Joint Committee on Budget and Finance.
The budget, set to cover key sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, comes ahead of a full-year budget expected to be presented by the incoming Mahama administration later in the year.
Key Highlights:
Total Revenue and Grants: GHC42.54 billion (3.5% of GDP).
Domestic Revenue: GHC40.67 billion
Tax Revenue: GHC1.87 billion
Grants: GHC68.65 million
Social Security Contributions & Others: GHC1.04 billion
Expenditure Focus: Tax refunds (GHC2.37 billion), healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The approval process sparked intense debate in Parliament, with disagreements over spending priorities and revenue strategies. While the minority accused the Finance Minister of delaying the presentation, the majority dismissed these claims, stressing the importance of the budget in preventing a government shutdown.
The Mini-Budget aims to address Ghana’s immediate financial needs and ensure economic stability during this transitional period. Attention will now shift to the incoming administration’s ability to effectively implement the budget and achieve its policy goals.
