Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s presentation of the 2025 Budget to Parliament on March 11 has sparked controversy, with Karaga MP Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam accusing him of distorting economic data to mislead Ghanaians.
Dr. Amin Adam alleged that the figures presented by the Finance Minister exaggerated the economic distress inherited by the current administration. He specifically challenged the reported fiscal deficit of 8.3% and a primary balance deficit of 3.7%, calling them “cooked figures” aimed at creating a false narrative.
“The minister manipulated the data by introducing a new line item called ‘unreleased claims’ amounting to GHC 49 billion. This was deliberately inserted to inflate the reported deficit,” he claimed. According to him, a proper analysis of the data would reveal that the previous government actually left a surplus balance of 0.7% on a commitment basis.
Despite these allegations, the 2025 Budget outlined significant revenue-generating measures, including an increase in the Growth and Sustainability Levy on mining companies from 1% to 3% and the reintroduction of road tolls. These policies, according to the Finance Minister, are necessary to strengthen Ghana’s economy and drive national development.
The accusations of data manipulation add another layer of political tension to the economic debate, as both sides seek to control the narrative regarding Ghana’s fiscal health.
