Accra: Ahead of the maiden presentation of the Budget and Economic Policy Statement by the Mahama-led Government on Tuesday, March 11, many Ghanaians from diverse backgrounds including economic, financial, and governance experts have expressed varied opinions and expectations. One of those individuals is former Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi in the Eastern Region.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah averred that the then Flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. John Dramani Mahama, during the 2024 electioneering, made 273 economic promises and believed that the Budget is the beginning of how those promises would be fulfilled. The MP stated that, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, the NDC-led Government of Ghana will present its first economic policy and budget to Parliament, marking the true beginning of the administration's work where policy and funding are made available for implementation.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah noted that the new administration made some 273 economic commitments ahead of the last election. On Tuesday, the administration will present to Parliament the first set of commitments, which it intends to fulfill in year one. As a Ranking Member on the Economic and Development Committee of Parliament, he emphasized that Parliament's role is to examine these commitments and budgets, assess them, make recommendations, and ultimately approve the policy and the budget.
The lawmaker highlighted that the Minority would leverage its experiences in government, lessons from past successes and failures, and input from constituents to ensure a thorough review of the budget. He stated, "We will bring to bear the knowledge we've acquired in government, the lessons from what went right and wrong in our era, and the feedback from our constituents in our assessment and approvals."
Reaffirming the Minority's commitment to supporting policies that would benefit Ghanaians, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah cautioned against governance driven by rhetoric rather than substance. He expressed optimism that the transition from propaganda to governance programs could effectively address the challenges facing the people.
The Budget and Economic Policy Statement of the Government aligns with Article 179(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates that "The President shall cause to be prepared and laid before Parliament at least one month before the end of the financial year, estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the Government of Ghana for the following financial year."
