Hassan Ayariga acknowledges government’s economic gains but questions impact on living standards

Founder and Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Dr Hassan Ayariga, has acknowledged improvements in Ghana’s macroeconomic performance under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government in 2026 but says the gains must translate into better living conditions for ordinary Ghanaians.

In an assessment of the government’s performance ahead of the 2027 Budget presentation, Dr Ayariga cited progress in fiscal consolidation, inflation reduction and revenue mobilisation.

He noted that the Bank of Ghana had reported a decline in the fiscal deficit for the first half of 2026 compared with the corresponding period in 2025, alongside a primary fiscal surplus.

He also acknowledged that inflation had fallen substantially from the high levels recorded in previous years.

However, he cautioned that lower inflation does not necessarily mean prices have fallen or household incomes have improved.

He said the government must demonstrate how economic stabilisation is translating into stronger purchasing power, better wages, employment and business opportunities.

Dr Ayariga also raised concerns about government expenditure, citing Bank of Ghana reporting that total expenditure in the first half of 2026 was approximately 24.9 per cent below its programmed target.

Capital expenditure was also below the programmed level, raising questions about the timely release of funds to ministries, departments and agencies.

He said the shortfall could affect the implementation of programmes in critical sectors, including healthcare, education, agriculture, road construction and water infrastructure.

While cautioning that the expenditure gap does not automatically establish that the Finance Minister personally refused to release funds, he called on the Ministry of Finance to publish a comprehensive report detailing the amounts allocated, released and spent by each ministry during the year.

Dr Ayariga said the 2027 Budget must provide clear answers on funding shortfalls and how the government intends to improve implementation of approved programmes.

He further urged the government to prioritise productive employment, Ghanaian enterprise development, infrastructure, agricultural productivity and public financial accountability.

The APC leader said the success of government should ultimately be measured by improvements in the welfare of citizens, rather than budget announcements and macroeconomic indicators alone.

His assessment, dated November 10, 2026, comes ahead of the government's presentation of the 2027 National Budget to Parliament on Thursday, November 12.