Davis Ansah Opoku Faults Government for ‘Empty’ Budget Lacking Clear Policy Direction
The Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, has taken aim at the 2026 Budget Statement, describing it as heavy on political messaging but lacking the substance needed to address the country’s economic challenges.
Speaking during Friday’s parliamentary debate, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Public Accounts Committee said the budget fell short of offering clear policy direction or practical measures that could ease the financial pressures facing households and businesses.
According to him, government appeared more focused on crafting appealing slogans than presenting actionable programmes backed by realistic funding plans. He noted that many of the commitments in the budget were repetitions of earlier promises without any indication of how they would be executed.
“We expected solutions, not soundbites,” he said, adding that Ghanaians had grown weary of rhetoric that does not translate into meaningful outcomes.
Mr Opoku argued that several critical sectors including agriculture, manufacturing and small enterprises received inadequate attention, even though they are central to job creation and economic recovery. He maintained that the document failed to demonstrate the urgency required to confront the country’s economic difficulties.
He also criticised what he called the budget’s lack of transparency, noting that key projects were presented without detailed financing plans, timelines or cost breakdowns. This, he said, undermines credibility and makes oversight difficult.
“Parliament cannot approve a budget that does not tell the country how programmes will be delivered or what they will cost,” he cautioned.
Concluding his remarks, Mr Opoku urged the government to revise the document and return with a more practical, clearly articulated plan anchored in achievable targets. He emphasised that the moment calls for decisive action rather than branding exercises.
