2026 Budget must lead Ghana toward self-reliance – Bagbin

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has urged lawmakers to treat the 2026 Budget as a national turning point, saying the document should guide Ghana toward genuine self-reliance rather than continued dependence on external financial support.

He delivered the message at a Post Budget Workshop in Accra, where legislators and economic experts gathered to reflect on the country’s fiscal direction.

Mr Bagbin reminded participants that Ghana’s economic challenges are not simply a matter of limited resources but of how efficiently those resources are managed.

He invited lawmakers to look beyond balance sheets and view the budget as a tool that can change the country’s long-term economic story.

In sharing his view on the continent’s wider struggle with effective fiscal management, he offered a line that resonated with many in the room.

“A common refrain echoes across Africa: Africa is not poor, it is poorly managed, and the budget is the clearest expression of that management,” he said.

His call comes at a moment when the nation continues to wrestle with high debt levels, exposure to global market shocks and limited revenue generation.

The Speaker noted that these recurring problems make it essential for the 2026 fiscal plan to champion policies that strengthen domestic production and reduce vulnerability to external pressures.

With the budget presented to Parliament earlier in the week, Mr Bagbin encouraged legislators to question whether each policy proposal supports Ghana’s capacity to stand on its own.

He said the country’s future depends on how boldly lawmakers shape the economy today and challenged them to ensure that this year’s budget sets the stage for meaningful structural reform.