Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has criticised the 2027 Budget, accusing the government of relying on economic figures and slogans without translating its claims of economic stability into jobs and improved living conditions.
He described the NDC administration as a “sloganeering government,” arguing that Ghanaians continued to face high food prices, unemployment and business challenges despite the government's economic recovery claims.
Afenyo-Markin made the remarks while addressing journalists on Thursday, November 12, after Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson presented the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament.
“Let Ghanaians know that this NDC government is a sloganeering government. What they came to do was to subject us to another round of slogans and no jobs,” he said.
He argued that the government's economic stability figures had not translated into affordable food or relief for households and businesses.
“Stability on paper, hardship in our pockets,” he said.
The Minority Leader cited food prices in markets across the country, including Techiman, Tamale, Kumasi Asafo, Winneba Central and Makola. He also questioned the support available to farmers and the reduction in the cocoa farmgate price, despite promises made by the NDC while in opposition.
“You cannot rebrand unemployment. They cannot slogan away the cost of living,” he added.
Afenyo-Markin also questioned the implementation of the government's New Economy agenda, which includes a proposed US$10 billion investment between 2027 and 2030.
He demanded details of how much would be spent in 2027 and the specific projects the funding would support.
He further questioned how the New Economy programme related to the government's 24-hour economy policy, arguing that the budget lacked sufficient details on implementation.
On public sector obligations, the Minority Leader welcomed the Finance Minister's announcement that the government was ready to pay bondholders under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
However, he questioned why the government had not provided similar assurances on outstanding payments to the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), teachers and nurses, as well as funding for public sector recruitment.
“They claim that they have money to pay domestic debt exchange programme bondholders, those whose savings were postponed and whose payments were deferred. They say they have money to pay. That is good news. We welcome that,” he said.
“But the question is: where is the money to pay JUSAG, the money to pay teachers, the money to pay nurses, and the money to recruit?”
He also accused the government of failing to provide figures on the number of jobs created since assuming office.
“It is not data that Ghanaians are going to consume. Ghanaians want jobs, jobs, jobs,” he said.
The Minority Leader further questioned the government's progress on its proposed women's bank, saying the initiative had featured in previous budgets but was absent from the latest presentation.
He also raised concerns about electricity costs and what he described as inadequate incentives for businesses, arguing that the private sector was critical to economic growth.
“Without the private sector, the economy cannot grow,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin said the Minority would examine the budget further and present a comprehensive assessment after its budget workshop.
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