Ato Forson to present 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review today
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson is set to present the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament today, Thursday, July 23, 2026, providing an update on the economy and outlining the government’s priorities for the rest of the year.
The review goes beyond the constitutional requirement for a fiscal update. It is expected to evaluate the economy’s performance during the first half of 2026 against the projections contained in the national budget and announce any policy adjustments needed to maintain economic growth and fiscal stability.
When the 2026 Budget was presented in November 2025, the government outlined plans to transition the economy from macroeconomic recovery to sustained growth, with a focus on stronger expansion while preserving fiscal discipline.
Halfway through the year, available economic data indicate that the economy has generally performed better than anticipated.
Inflation has declined significantly to 5.3 percent, falling below the government’s medium-term target range of 8 percent, plus or minus 2 percentage points. Other indicators also point to improvements in fiscal consolidation, external sector performance and debt sustainability.
The original budget projected real GDP growth of at least 4.8 percent, non-oil GDP growth of 4.9 percent, an overall fiscal deficit of 2 percent of GDP, a primary fiscal surplus of 1.5 percent of GDP, and international reserves sufficient to cover at least three months of imports.
The Finance Minister is expected to indicate whether these targets remain on track and whether any macroeconomic assumptions need to be revised in light of current domestic and global economic developments.
In addition to the headline economic indicators, the review is expected to provide updates on revenue collection, government expenditure, debt management and financing plans for the second half of the year.
There are also strong indications that the government will not introduce new taxes, opting instead to focus on implementing existing fiscal measures to preserve macroeconomic stability.
Another major area of focus is expected to be Ghana’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Minister is likely to brief Parliament on the successful completion of Ghana’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme and plans to transition to the IMF’s Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI), which is expected to support macroeconomic policy and strengthen investor confidence after the bailout programme concludes.
The Mid-Year Budget Review is regarded as a key policy statement because it outlines the government’s spending priorities, borrowing strategy and economic agenda for the remainder of the year. It also provides guidance on the outlook for inflation, interest rates, exchange rate stability and the broader business environment.
Businesses, investors and development partners will be closely watching the presentation for any changes to expenditure plans or financing strategies.
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