Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has strongly defended the Mahama administration’s spending record, insisting that the government is not only spending, but doing so in areas that directly benefit the economy and improve the lives of Ghanaians.
Delivering the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Statement to Parliament on Thursday, July 24, Dr. Ato Forson addressed criticisms suggesting that the government was not investing enough in critical sectors.
He clarified that substantial payments have been made across various priority areas since the beginning of 2025.
“Rt. Hon. Speaker, contrary to the perception that we are not spending, we are indeed spending—and spending at the right places. We are making the right investments,” he said.
Outlining a comprehensive list of disbursements made from the Consolidated Fund between January and June 2025, Dr. Forson revealed that a total of GH¢114.5 billion in cash had been paid, with non-interest expenditures alone amounting to GH¢84.2 billion.
Key payments included:
US$700 million to settle Eurobond obligations
GH¢10 billion to domestic bondholders
GH¢2.9 billion to the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF)
GH¢2.7 billion to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT)
GH¢9.1 billion to support the energy sector for stable power supply
GH¢5 billion for the clearance of arrears
GH¢4.6 billion to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund)
GH¢1 billion to support the Free Secondary Education programme
GH¢4.6 billion to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)
GH¢1.4 billion to settle NHIS claims
GH¢252 million for the procurement of vaccines and essential medicines
GH¢72.8 million for Capitation Grants
GH¢477 million to support beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme
GH¢895 million to the School Feeding Programme
GH¢122.8 million to cover BECE registration
GH¢300 million for the No Fee Stress Policy
GH¢191.7 million for Teacher Training Allowances
GH¢462.6 million for Nursing Training Allowances
GH¢25 million to pay Assembly Members’ allowances
GH¢21 million to support the National Apprenticeship Programme
GH¢34.5 million to the Adwumawura Programme
About GH¢2 billion to support the operations of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies
About GH¢2 billion to recapitalise the National Investment Bank (NIB)
Dr. Forson emphasized that these payments reflect the government’s commitment to maintaining fiscal discipline while delivering essential public services and protecting social interventions.
He concluded by reaffirming the Mahama administration’s resolve to reset the economy for inclusive growth, stressing that “we are spending wisely, targeting the sectors that matter most to our people and our future.”
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