Deputy Majority Leader George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan has called on Members of Parliament to subject the 2026 Budget to rigorous scrutiny to guarantee value for money and ensure that national resources are used efficiently and responsibly.
Speaking at a Post-Budget Workshop in Accra, Ricketts-Hagan stressed that lawmakers have a duty to ensure that the budget reflects not only fiscal prudence but also the needs and aspirations of Ghanaians.
“As representatives of the people, our duty is to ensure that the budget reflects not only fiscal prudence but also the aspirations and needs of the citizenry,” he said.
“We as parliamentarians must therefore scrutinise the budget thoroughly, ensuring that allocations are equitable, realistic and results-oriented.”
He emphasised that both Parliament and the Executive bear a shared responsibility in delivering national development, creating opportunities, and ensuring value for money in the use of public resources.
“The 2026 budget is also a call to collective action,” he noted. “It challenges us to think innovatively about how to grow our economy sustainably, how to expand the tax base without overburdening our citizenry, and how to deliver essential public services more effectively.”
The 2026 Budget presented by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama under the theme “Resetting for Growth, Jobs, and Economic Transformation outlines a shift from recovery to transformation, focusing on sustaining fiscal discipline, boosting job creation through infrastructure and agricultural investment, and improving education, healthcare, and security to promote inclusive growth.
Several legislative instruments, including the Value for Money Bill, the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, and the repeal of the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, were also laid before Parliament.
Meanwhile, the Minority has similarly urged MPs to approach the budget with a spirit of collaboration, stressing the need for practical solutions and a people-centered approach to national spending.
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