The government has made various resource allocations in its 2026 budget statement and economic policy to move from what it described as stabilisation to acceleration.
Presenting the budget statement to Parliament on 13th November, 2025, the Minister for Finance, Dr Casiel Ato Forson, said the economic policy document will translate confidence into concrete investments that improve daily life, including the provision of better roads, stronger schools and hospitals, reliable power, more jobs, and targeted support for the vulnerable. According to him, the headline allocations that will drive delivery in 2026 and set the pace for the medium-term.
He said to unlock round-the-clock productivity, exports, and decent jobs under the 24-Hour Economy, the government is providing an allocation of GH¢110 million in 2026 for the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy programme.
This amount, he explained, will be leveraged with GIIF/DBG and private capital to keep financing largely off the sovereign balance sheet.
He said to scale-up food security and agro-industrial value-chains, covering Feed Ghana, grains and vegetables, and the Nkoko Nkitinkiti livestock programme, among others, the government is providing GH¢245 million in 2026 to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
“To transform our ‘red gold’ into a true engine of rural prosperity, export growth, and job creation, we are establishing a dedicated GH¢6.9 billion Oil Palm finance window to support the implementation of the National Policy on Integrated Oil Palm Development (2026–2032).
“An initial rollout support will be provided in 2026 for nurseries, out-growers, land-bank activation, long-term crop financing, smallholder inclusion, and value addition through local processing,” the Finance Minister added.
GH¢828 million for 1,000km of agriculture enclave roads
To facilitate the transportation of farm produce to markets and reduce food inflation, the government has allocated GH¢828 million for the construction of 1,000km of agriculture enclave roads.
“We have allocated GH¢690 million to commence the operationalisation of the Farmer Service Centres.
“We have allocated GH¢200 million to the Ghana Buffer Stock Company to purchase the glut in food produce and reduce the losses to our farmers.
We have allocated GH¢100 million for aquaculture development.
“We have allocated GH¢2.0 billion for Phase I of the Rural Electricity Acceleration and Urban Intensification Initiative in 2026.
“We have also allocated an amount of GH¢15.2 billion for energy sector shortfall payments.
“We have allocated an amount of GH¢4.8 billion to pay legacy IPP debt in 2026.
“Mr. Speaker, we have allocated an amount of GH¢4.3 billion to the Ministry of Road and Highways for road construction,” Dr Ato Forson stated.
GH¢3 billion to Ghana Road Maintenance Trust Fund
In addition to the Ministry of Road and Highways allocation, Dr Ato Forson said the government has allocated GH¢3.0 billion to the Ghana Road Maintenance Trust Fund to construct 10km each in 166 constituencies in 2026 to keep roads motorable in constituencies in dire need of road infrastructure.
“Mr. Speaker, to strategically open up the country, linking national and regional capitals, we are allocating GH¢30.0 billion in 2026 for the Big Push Infrastructure Programme for strategic roads and bridges,” he emphasised.
GH¢33.3 billion allocated to MOE
Government, Dr Ato Forson announced, has allocated GH¢33.3 billion to the Ministry of Education for its programmes and activities in 2026.
“Aside the amount allocated to the Ministry of Education, an amount of GH¢9.9 billion has been allocated for the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund),” the Finance Minister added.
GH¢4.2 billion for free SHS
According to the Finance Minister, the government has provisioned an amount of GH¢4.2 billion for the implementation of the Free Secondary Education in 2026.
He said to end the double-track system and to improve the quality of our secondary education, the government is also allocating an amount of GH¢1.1 billion under the Ghana Secondary Learning Improvement Programme (GSLIP) in 2026.
GH¢537 million for ‘No-Fee-Stress’ policy
Dr Ato Forson said the government will continue the “No-Fee-Stress” policy and has allocated GH¢537 million for it in 2026.
“We have allocated GH¢25 million for Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities. We have also allocated GH¢3.0 billion for:
- Four (4) sets of KG books and workbooks for about 200,000 learners;
- Four (4) sets of primary textbooks for 2 million learners; and
- nine (9) sets of JHS 3 textbooks for 500,000 learners; and
- procurement of over 2 million pieces of metal mono-desks and chairs, 200 units of 66-seater buses and 200 double-cabin pick-ups for distribution to secondary schools across the country. In addition, we have allocated an amount of GH¢2.0 billion for the construction of 200 new Junior High Schools, 200 new primary schools, 200 kindergartens, 400 4-unit teachers’ bungalows and 400 places of convenience in underserved communities,” the Finance Minister reiterated.
GH¢9.0 billion for NHIS claims in 2026
In line with the policy of uncapping the NHIL to ensure full, timely financing, the Finance Minister announced that the government has programmed an amount of GH¢9.0 billion in 2026 for NHIS claims, essential medicines, vaccines, bridging support and Free Primary Healthcare.
“We have also allocated an amount of GH¢2.3 billion for the Ghana Medical Care Trust (MahamaCares) to support Ghanaians battling chronic diseases such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes, stroke and kidney diseases.
GH¢401 million to the Women’s Development Bank
To crowd-in finance for women-owned MSMEs, Dr Ato Forson said, the government is providing another GH¢401 million to the Women’s Development Bank.
“To scale skills-for-jobs at pace, we are allocating GH¢170 million for the National Apprenticeship Programme.
“To accelerate digital skills and SME competitiveness, we are providing GH¢100 million for the National Coders Programme and GH¢160 million for ‘Adwumawura’ enterprise support,” Dr Ato Forson said.
GH¢207 million for rebasing of GDP and CPI
The government has allocated an amount of GH¢207 million for the rebasing of the GDP and CPI and for related activities, including completion of key surveys to enable a more accurate assessment of economic performance and price changes.
Similarly, an amount of GH¢150 million has been allocated to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) for their activities against illegal mining and forest degradation.
GH¢400 million for Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant
The government has also allocated GH¢400 million for the Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP).
Other allocations
-An amount of GH¢100 million has been allocated for the construction of fishing markets.
-An amount of GH¢50 million has been allocated for the purchase of fishing nets and outboard motors.
-The government has allocated GH¢500 million for District Housing, including resettlement of Akosombo Dam spillage victims.
-An amount of GH¢200 million has been allocated for the construction of mini stadiums.
-An amount of GH¢150 million has been allocated for the procurement of fire tenders and assorted fire equipment.
-An amount of GH¢150 million has been allocated for the Black Stars to participate in the World Cup.
800,000 jobs to be created
According to the Minister for Finance, the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government is specifically designed to create up to 800,000 new jobs.
“The GH¢63 billion road contracts awarded so far under the Big Push will generate an estimated 490,000 jobs.
“This estimation is consistent with World Bank metrics on job creation from road investment.
“The three new garment factories will create over 20,000 direct jobs.
“The seven agro-processing plants will employ about 700 people directly and thousands more through supply chains.
“The National Policy on Integrated Oil Palm Development will create 250,000 jobs across the value chain.
“The Farmer Service Centres will engage thousands in machinery operation, maintenance, and logistics,” Dr Ato Forson indicated.
These investments, he indicated, are not isolated, saying they are part of an integrated national effort to turn stability into jobs and growth.
According to Dr Ato Forson, the government is putting real capital behind the private sector, which is the engine of jobs and growth.
“In this regard, we have recapitalised the National Investment Bank and will recapitalise the ADB and CBG with GH¢1 billion before end-2025.
“The GH¢401 million allocated to the Women’s Development Bank will deliver affordable finance to small businesses and entrepreneurs such as Lamisi Adam, Priscilla Yovu and Caroline Sfeir, whom I met during my engagements at the Takoradi Market Circle and the Kotokoraba Market,” the Finance Minister concluded.
