Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin slams 2026 Budget as “cut-and-paste”, calls for its withdrawal

Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, delivered sharp criticism of the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy Document on Thursday, describing it as a “cut-and-paste” work lacking originality and strategic direction.

Speaking in Parliament, he argued that the document failed to introduce any fresh policy outlook, accusing the Ministry of Finance of not fulfilling its duty to present a well-prepared, coherent and accurate national budget.

He highlighted what he described as glaring factual errors, questioning references in the document to ministries that no longer exist in their previous form.

He cited specific examples:

• Paragraph 519: Mentions the Ministry of Railway Development
• Paragraph 528: Refers to the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources
• Paragraph 523: Mentions the Ministry of Works and Housing

According to him, these ministry references demonstrate a lack of due diligence and indicate that significant portions of the 2026 budget were repeated or lifted from past documents without proper review.

Mr Afenyo-Markin insisted that the 2026 budget must be withdrawn and replaced with a properly vetted, factually accurate and policy-driven document suitable for parliamentary approval.

The Effutu MP reiterated the Minority’s demand for a budget that reflects current realities and provides clear, innovative pathways for Ghana’s economic management moving forward.