The Institute for Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP) has raised concerns over what it describes as significant gaps in the government’s 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, saying that while key economic indicators have improved, the figures presented do not tell the full story. In a statement issued on Sunday, July 26, after the finance minister’s presentation to Parliament on Thursday, July 23, 2026, the think tank acknowledged positive developments in the economy, including lower inflation, a relatively stable cedi and an improved debt-to-GDP ratio. However, it said the review failed to explain several important issues behind those gains.
“A credible accounting requires more than a catalogue of achievements; it demands an honest reckoning with the gaps and unexplained figures that remain,” the Institute said. IERPP said it was, therefore, calling on the government to provide additional data and clarify what it described as unresolved aspects of the country’s fiscal position. One of the Institute’s main concerns is the absence of updates on two flagship government programmes, the 24-hour economy initiative and Nkonko-Nkitinkiti.
According to IERPP, the 24-hour economy programme, which was presented as a major solution to unemployment and received an allocation of GH¢110 million in the 2026 budget, was not discussed during the mid-year review. The Institute said the review did not state how many jobs had been created, how many people were currently employed under the initiative or which companies were participating. It also questioned the lack of information on Nkonko-Nkitinkiti, a poultry industry programme allocated GH¢245 million to boost local production, create jobs and reduce imports.
“By distancing itself from these flagship policies, the government has left Ghanaians in the dark. Citizens deserve transparency and accountability, not silence, on the true state of these initiatives,” the statement said. IERPP also challenged the government’s presentation of Ghana’s public debt.
While the review reported that public debt had fallen from 61.8 per cent of GDP at the end of 2024 to 45 per cent by June 2026, the Institute argued that the ratio alone does not reflect the country’s actual debt burden. Citing Bank of Ghana data, IERPP said total public debt increased from GH¢663.4 billion in January 2026 to GH¢720.8 billion by May 2026, an increase of about…
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