The Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr Gideon Boako, has questioned the government’s portrayal of revenue performance, arguing that the full-year fiscal data paints a less favourable picture than suggested in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, July 25, the Tano North MP said although government highlighted strong revenue performance during the first half of 2025—including non-oil tax revenue exceeding target by GH¢787 million as well as stronger corporate income tax collections and mineral royalties—the broader fiscal outcome tells a different story.
He noted that by the third quarter of 2025, the government’s own 2026 Budget acknowledged that non-oil tax revenue had fallen 4.1 per cent below target, with shortfalls recorded in Pay As You Earn (PAYE), corporate income tax, Value Added Tax (VAT), excise duties, the Growth and Sustainability Levy and import duties.
Dr Boako further pointed out that by the end of 2025, actual total revenue amounted to GH¢224.88 billion against a revised target of GH¢229.95 billion, while tax revenue reached GH¢183.99 billion compared with a revised target of GH¢189.96 billion, representing a tax revenue shortfall of about GH¢6 billion.
“Although government presented the first-half numbers as robust, the full-year figures show that total revenue missed the revised target while tax revenue also fell significantly below expectations.
“These are the figures that should inform any assessment of fiscal performance,” he said, adding that the quality and sustainability of revenue mobilisation should remain central to evaluating the country’s fiscal consolidation efforts.
