Head of Finance at Merban Capital, Nelson Cudjoe Kuagbedzi, has urged the government to prioritise value addition and import substitution industries in the 2026 Budget to sustain Ghana’s current economic stability and promote long-term growth.
Speaking ahead of the budget presentation on Thursday, November 13, Mr Kuagbedzi acknowledged that while the economy has shown signs of improvement, underlying risks remain.
He attributed the relative stability of the cedi largely to strong reserves but cautioned that sustained progress would require a shift toward structural reforms.
“We all agree that the economy has seen some level of stability, but there are still inherent risk factors. Going forward, we should focus more on value-added products that we can export and that are sustainable.
“We should bring on board more import substitution industries. These are areas that the government should concentrate on, especially the implementation of the 24-hour economy policy intended to capacitate the private sector,” he said.
This year’s budget presentation is expected to be one of the most consequential in recent years as Ghana prepares to exit the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme in May 2026.
The fiscal policy outline is anticipated to set the tone for post-IMF economic management, with emphasis on debt sustainability, expenditure control, and private sector empowerment.
Economic observers say the government’s commitment to fostering domestic production and expanding export capacity will be key to ensuring resilience and self-sufficiency in the coming years.
