Member of Parliament for Manso Nkwanta, Tweneboa Kodua Fokuo, has questioned the impact of Ghana’s reported economic growth, arguing that improvements in key indicators must translate into better livelihoods and employment opportunities for citizens.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Big Issue on Saturday, July 25, Tweneboa Fokuo said while the government’s reported 6.4% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the first quarter of 2026 is a significant figure, the true measure of success should be how it affects ordinary Ghanaians.
According to him, economic growth figures should not be celebrated in isolation without assessing whether they are creating jobs, improving incomes and strengthening the welfare of citizens.
Tweneboa Fokuo pointed to youth unemployment as a major indicator of whether the country’s economic expansion is benefiting the population, noting that the unemployment rate among young people remains a concern.
He argued that if the economy is growing at a pace above regional averages, the industrial sector should be expanding in a way that creates more employment opportunities for young Ghanaians.
“The real test is whether this growth is reflecting in the lives of Ghanaians. That is what should determine whether we should praise ourselves for growing the economy,” he said.
The Manso Nkwanta MP also criticised the government’s revenue performance, noting that despite claims of progress in some areas, the country has fallen short of its revenue targets.
His comments follow Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s presentation of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, where he highlighted the government’s reported progress in economic recovery, including growth in GDP and improvements in other key macroeconomic indicators.
The review confirmed that Ghana’s real GDP grew by 6.4% in the first quarter of 2026, surpassing the 4.8% full-year growth floor. Non-oil GDP expanded by 6.3%, with services growing by 7.1%, industry by 6.9%, and agriculture by 4.0%. The GDP deflator also declined from 23.9% to 4.1%, indicating that growth was driven more by increased output than price increases
![Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, [right] Nigerian High Commissioner-designate of Nigeria to Ghana, Shehu ILU Barde [left]](https://www.citinewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/gh-naija-350x250.jpeg)
