Finance Ministry to begin public hearings on 2026–2029 budget
The Ministry of Finance will this week commence public hearings on Ghana’s 2026 to 2029 Budget and Economic Policy, a process aimed at shaping the government’s medium-term fiscal and economic direction.
The consultative hearings will draw submissions from business associations, financial institutions, civil society groups, labour unions and the wider public.
According to the Ministry, the exercise is designed to ensure that the national budget reflects the priorities of stakeholders while aligning with broader economic reforms.
The 2026 budget, scheduled for presentation to Parliament on 15 November 2025, is expected to place job creation and private sector-led growth at the centre of the government’s economic agenda.
Officials have already hinted that the policy direction is consistent with recent World Bank recommendations, which stressed that generating sustainable employment opportunities is critical to consolidating Ghana’s economic recovery.
The Ministry noted that previous stakeholder contributions have influenced budget allocations and policy choices, particularly in the areas of tax policy, business regulation and social protection.
“The government remains committed to an open and inclusive process, where the views of citizens and the private sector directly inform the national budget,” the Ministry said in a statement.
The emphasis on job creation comes against a backdrop of Ghana’s youthful population and rising labour market pressures.
Analysts argue that the budget’s credibility will hinge on concrete measures to reduce unemployment, expand access to skills training and stimulate private investment in high-potential sectors.
Ahead of the hearings, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has outlined its key expectations, with calls for deeper cuts in lending rates and tax burdens to ease the cost of doing business.
GUTA’s Public Relations Officer, Joseph Paddy, observed that although inflation and the policy rate have declined, interest rates remain high, creating challenges for traders and small businesses seeking affordable credit. “If government truly wants to empower the private sector to create jobs, then the cost of borrowing must be addressed more aggressively,” he stated.
