From Promises to Policy – Assessing the NDC Manifesto Against the 2025 Budget

A national budget is the ultimate test of a government’s sincerity where campaign rhetoric meets fiscal reality. The NDC’s 2024 manifesto, ‘Resetting Ghana’ promised an economic revival, industrial expansion, and social inclusion. Now, with the 2025 budget presented, it is time to critically assess whether the government is keeping faith with Ghanaians.

Economic Policies: Ambition vs. Execution

The manifesto laid out bold fiscal plans, including scrapping nuisance taxes such as the E-Levy, COVID-19 Levy, and 10% tax on bet winnings, which were deemed burdensome on ordinary Ghanaians. The 2025 budget follows through on these promises, marking a commendable start in easing the cost of living. The government’s move to uncap the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) aligns with its pledge to fully fund education, though execution will be closely monitored.

However, the manifesto’s promise of a 24-Hour Economy, which aims to create jobs through round-the-clock industrial activities, lacks clear-cut funding and incentive structures in the budget. While the finance minister reaffirmed the policy’s importance, details on implementation remain vague.

Infrastructure: The Big Push or Baby Steps?

One of the most ambitious promises of the NDC manifesto was the $10 billion ‘Big Push’ infrastructure plan, aimed at modernising roads, bridges, railways, and industrial parks. The 2025 budget does include increased infrastructure allocations, particularly for roads and transport, but the scale is far from the manifesto’s grand vision. With Ghana’s GH¢742 billion debt burden, fiscal constraints are understandable, but a clearer roadmap on phasing the ‘Big Push’ is necessary.

Education: Keeping the Free SHS Promise and More

The NDC manifesto pledged to review and improve Free SHS, focusing on eliminating food shortages and congestion in dormitories. The budget maintains Free SHS and allocates additional resources to expand school infrastructure and decentralize procurement, addressing past inefficiencies. However, there is no clear strategy in the budget on how food procurement decentralization will work to reduce corruption, an area that requires further clarity.

A key manifesto promise was free sanitary pads for female students, aimed at reducing absenteeism. The government’s allocation of GH¢292.4 million in the 2025 budget to begin free sanitary pad distribution is a major step forward and should be commended. Effective implementation will determine the impact.

Healthcare: A Work in Progress

The NDC manifesto pledged massive investment in healthcare infrastructure, including upgrading CHPS compounds, district hospitals, and reintroducing the Onuador and Onipa Nua mobile medical services. The budget acknowledges these priorities but provides limited fiscal backing. While the promise of upgrading regional hospitals is maintained, funding shortfalls could slow implementation.

Additionally, healthcare worker motivation, an issue highlighted in the manifesto, is addressed in the budget with plans to settle salary arrears for medical professionals. I will urge government to ensure timely execution to prevent further labour unrest in the health sector.

Debt Management: A Sobering Reality

The manifesto positioned the NDC as the party to stabilize Ghana’s struggling economy. However, the budget paints a grim picture, GH¢67.5 billion in arrears, a public debt of GH¢742 billion, and energy sector shortfalls of GH¢35 billion. The government’s cautious approach to fiscal spending is understandable, but it must find a balance between stabilization and growth. The absence of bold stimulus packages to drive economic expansion raises concerns about whether recovery will be swift enough.

Holding the Government Accountable

The NDC’s first budget delivers on some major promises, notably tax reliefs, Free SHS enhancements, and free sanitary pads for students. However, crucial policies such as the 24-Hour Economy and The Big Push infrastructure plan lack clear execution strategies. The government has set the right tone but must be proactive in proving that its promises were not just campaign slogans. Ghanaians deserve more than budgetary allocations they need action. The coming months will reveal whether the administration truly resets Ghana’s economy or merely adjusts its rhetoric to suit fiscal realities.