Government has projected GH¢268.1 billion in total revenue and grants for the 2026 fiscal year, representing an 18.3% increase over the GH¢226.7 billion recorded in 2025.
Presenting the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said the revenue outlook is anchored on an aggressive, disciplined mobilisation strategy built around compliance, enforcement and structural reforms.
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Non-oil tax revenue remains the main driver, expected to contribute GH¢216.1 billion, while the oil and gas sector is projected to bring in GH¢13.6 billion.
Dr Forson said the revenue push aligns with the government’s Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS), which emphasises expanding the tax net rather than increasing burdens on already compliant taxpayers. He noted that reforms would aim to block “systemic leakages” that have long undermined revenue performance.
A recent audit revealed abuse of Import Declaration Forms (IDFs) for illicit forex transfers and significant under-declaration of import values—irregularities that caused an estimated GH¢11 billion in lost revenue. In response, an Inter-Agency Committee has been set up to audit all import-related transfers, while the Bank of Ghana will now validate every forex transaction against credible import data.
The Ghana Revenue Authority has also been directed to establish a special recovery unit tasked with retrieving lost revenue identified through the audits.
On the expenditure front, the Finance Minister said breaches leading to arrears accumulation and failures in commitment control would attract sanctions under Sections 96–98 of the Public Financial Management Act.
Government aims to secure a 1.5% primary surplus in 2026, consistent with Ghana’s fiscal responsibility framework. Dr Forson noted that the disciplined stance would safeguard public resources for priority programmes, including the Big Push Infrastructure Programme and the 24-Hour Economy initiative.
