Minority Describes 2025 Budget as “Azaa Budget” with No Hope for Ghanaian Youth
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has criticized the 2025 Budget and Economic Policy Statement, describing it as an “Azaa Budget” (meaning a scam) that offers no hope or inspiration for Ghana’s youth.
Mr. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, expressed disappointment while commenting on the budget presented by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, on Tuesday. He described the budget as being filled with lamentations, similar to the President’s State of the Nation Address.
Afenyo-Markin questioned why a major policy like the 24-hour economy, which was a key focus during the 2024 election campaign, was absent from the budget. According to him, Ghanaian youth were eagerly anticipating details on how the 24-hour economy policy would drive economic transformation and create jobs. However, they were left disappointed when the Finance Minister admitted that the details of the policy were not ready.
“The budget provides no hope or inspiration. It only repeats existing social intervention programmes,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin remarked.
He also found it contradictory that the government blamed the poor state of the economy on mismanagement by the previous NPP administration, yet the Ghana Statistical Service reported that the economy grew by 5.7% in 2024 with four months’ import cover. He noted that under the Mahama-led government’s reset plan, the economy is projected to grow at 4% with three months’ import cover.
“The economy in 2024 grew by 5.7% GDP with four months’ import cover. Under Mahama’s reset, it is projecting four per cent growth and three months’ import cover,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
The budget presentation followed an economic dialogue organized by the government last week, which brought together experts and key stakeholders to discuss the country’s current economic challenges.
Despite the criticism, the government hopes that the 2025 Budget will promote macroeconomic stability, enhance governance, drive structural reforms, improve infrastructure, and boost productivity and economic growth.
