The Centre for Policy Scrutiny says the government’s ambitious 141% surge in capital spending for 2026 risks collapse unless revenue collection improves.
A policy fellow at the Centre, Dr. Prince Adjei warns that the success of the Budget depends on closing long-standing leakages in the tax system.
Dr. Adjei argues that the expenditure push will only be credible if the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is properly resourced to execute the new revenue measures.
“Make the 2026 revenue measures more credible by increasing resources to the GRA to implement the outlined initiatives, which include the deployment of technology to plug revenue gaps,” he stressed, adding that enforcement must be intensified in “poorly assessed or high-leakage areas of the revenue system, such as customs.”
He cautioned that the planned spending escalation must not compromise efficiency, insisting that “it is vital to undertake rigorous programme and project planning, alongside transparent and cost-effective procurement.”
According to him, the public sector must also “institutionalise constant evaluation of government programmes to ensure that they are managed and adjusted, as necessary, to achieve expected outcomes.”
Dr. Adjei further called for growth-supportive reforms, urging government to adopt “more innovative approaches that strike a balance between stability and growth,” while also encouraging increased private investment to complement public spending.
With the services sector continuing to dominate the economy, he urged stronger investments in human capital, stating that workers will require specialised skills to secure jobs in the expanding sector.
The 2026 fiscal year has a total expenditure projected at GH¢302.5 billion, equivalent to 18.9 percent of GDP, while total revenue and grants are expected to reach GH¢268.1 billion.
The CPS therefore recommended that the government prioritise education and skills development to align talent with industry needs.
