Fiscal discipline should not be mistaken for lack of spending – Eric Agbana to Minority

The Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Eric Edem Agbana, has defended the government’s expenditure programme, arguing that fiscal discipline should not be misconstrued as an unwillingness to spend on national development. Speaking during the debate on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on Wednesday, July 29, the Majority MP dismissed claims by the Minority that the government had failed to inject enough resources into the economy, insisting that such assertions were misleading. According to him, the Mahama administration has adopted a prudent approach to public spending by prioritising investments that deliver value for money while ensuring the country’s finances remain on a sustainable path.

“It is not true that we are not spending. The only difference is that this government is spending responsibly, this government is spending prudently and this government is investing in the right places.” Mr Agbana said the government’s approach reflects a deliberate shift from excessive and unplanned expenditure towards strategic investments that support economic growth. He maintained that prudent management of public finances would help sustain the gains already made in stabilising the economy while ensuring long-term development.

Ketu North Member of Parliament Eric Edem Agbana has accused the Minority in Parliament of being accustomed to what he described as a culture of reckless public spending, arguing that this explains its criticism of the government’s fiscal discipline. Contributing to the debate on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review on Wednesday, July 29, Mr Agbana said the opposition appeared unable to distinguish between responsible expenditure and wasteful spending because of its experience in government. He argued that the Mahama administration has chosen a different path by exercising restraint in public expenditure while directing resources to priority sectors capable of driving economic growth and improving the livelihoods of Ghanaians.

“Yes, they are so used to the culture of normalised expenditure and reckless spending to the extent that fiscal discipline appears to them as not spending.” Mr Agbana maintained that the government’s prudent use of public funds was yielding positive results, as reflected in the improving state of the economy. He said the administration would continue to pursue responsible fiscal policies despite criticism from the opposition, insisting that sound economic management was more important than politically motivated spending.