The Minority Caucus in Parliament has rejected the government’s claim that the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review introduced no new taxes, insisting that several fiscal measures announced by the Finance Minister amount to fresh taxes that will place additional pressure on businesses and households.
Speaking at a press conference in Parliament, the Ranking Member on the Economy and Development Committee and MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, argued that the government’s position was misleading.
He said although Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson maintained that no new taxes had been introduced, the budget contained measures that would ultimately increase the financial burden on Ghanaians.
According to Oppong Nkrumah, the extension of the Growth and Sustainability Levy, the continuation of the Special Import Levy, the introduction of VAT on non-life insurance premiums, new petroleum-related levies, and the removal of tax exemptions on bunkering and marine gas oil all amount to additional taxes.
He maintained that these measures would raise the cost of doing business, increase production costs and eventually lead to higher prices for consumers.
The Minority also criticised the Finance Minister for failing to provide a comprehensive update on the government’s revenue and expenditure performance.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah accused the government of relying on public relations to present an overly positive picture of the economy instead of offering detailed figures comparing budget targets with actual performance.
Former Deputy Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Atiwa West, Abena Osei Asare, also questioned the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline.
She alleged that the Ghana Revenue Authority exceeded its approved 2025 budget by approximately GH¢100 million, arguing that such overspending contradicts the government’s repeated calls for prudent financial management.
Mrs. Osei Asare further raised concerns over the funding of new projects announced in the Mid-Year Budget Review.
She questioned how the government intended to finance those initiatives without first seeking Parliament’s approval through a supplementary budget.
