Minority threatens to boycott Mid-Year Budget presentation

Accra, Ghana — July 24, 2025

Ghana’s Parliament is bracing for heightened political tension as the Minority Caucus has announced its intention to boycott the presentation of the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. The boycott, according to Minority leadership, stems from deep concerns over the transparency and reliability of the budget figures and projections to be presented.

The Finance Minister is scheduled to deliver the statement in Parliament today at noon, outlining adjustments to the government’s fiscal strategy and economic outlook for the second half of the year. However, the Minority contends that the current administration has consistently failed to uphold its financial commitments and continues to impose burdensome levies on citizens without accountability.

Speaking to the press, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who previously served as a Deputy Finance Minister, questioned the legitimacy of the upcoming presentation. “We cannot participate in a charade that misleads the Ghanaian public. The government has failed to meet its revenue targets, and instead of providing relief, it continues to deepen the economic hardship,” he stated.

Key among their grievances is the retention of the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy and the introduction of new taxes the Minority describes as regressive. The caucus believes these actions contradict earlier promises made by the administration to ease the tax burden on Ghanaians.

Instead of attending the session in Parliament, Minority MPs have indicated plans to present a formal petition to the Office of the President, the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), and key civil society organizations. The petition will outline their objections to the budget process and call for increased transparency and public engagement in future reviews.

Political analysts warn that the boycott, though symbolic, could have significant implications for parliamentary oversight. “The Mid-Year Budget Review is a constitutional requirement that ensures fiscal accountability. A walkout by the Minority weakens the legislative scrutiny needed in such exercises,” said Professor Kofi Asare, a governance expert at the University of Ghana.

Despite the impending boycott, parliamentary rules allow the government to proceed with the presentation in the absence of the Minority, provided quorum requirements are met. The Majority Caucus has since urged calm, emphasizing the importance of unity in addressing the country’s pressing economic issues.

As the nation awaits the Finance Minister’s presentation, many Ghanaians are left wondering whether the government will acknowledge the growing dissatisfaction or press on without bipartisan input.