Kwabena Otchere Mensah, the Member of Parliament for Takoradi and Chairman of the Committee for Parliamentary Affairs, has heavily criticised the mid-year budget review presented by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, describing it as full of “abrofosem” and lacking substance, hope, and tangible outcomes.
He stated that the presentation was completely detached from the daily realities of Ghanaians who are currently struggling to survive under harsh economic conditions.
The lawmaker posited that the fundamental role of any responsible government is to transform lives, maintain economic stability, and make a meaningful impact, rather than simply parading numbers.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Mr Mensah argued that the Finance Minister has shown laziness in revenue mobilisation, leading to missed targets across both revenue generation and expenditure.
He further observed that key government initiatives have focused heavily on economic sterilisation rather than actively promoting domestic production and long-term growth.
He told host Kwabena Agyapong: “I believe strongly governments exist to create an impact and not to create numbers. What as Minority we observed was that the Minister has been very lazy about collecting revenue, so he has missed targets on revenue and expenditure.”
The Takoradi MP noted that ordinary citizens are complaining bitterly about low returns on their businesses.
He explained that there is currently a lack of liquidity and circulation of funds in the economy because the government is refusing to spend, choosing instead to engage in sterilisation.
According to him, with about 80 per cent of the population working within the informal sector, any drag on the circulation of resources directly damages trade, social livelihoods, and broader economic development.
He accused the government of resorting to propaganda instead of being candid about the actual extent of the nation’s economic struggles.
Reflecting on past performance, Mr Mensah highlighted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration previously managed two major shocks—the banking sector crisis, which cost the nation over GH¢30 billion, and the global COVID-19 pandemic, which further exacerbated the situation.
Despite these overwhelming hurdles, he maintained that the previous government remained steadfast in resolving the crises.
He urged the current administration to be transparent with the Ghanaian public and stop massaging figures, insisting that the content of the budget review provides nothing to be proud of.
He dismissed the government’s celebration of a 3 per cent economic growth rate, arguing that even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the previous administration recorded a 6 per cent growth rate.
“The budget review was just English. The truth is that Ghanaians are struggling. Water and electricity tariffs have shot up. The government has been lazy in raising revenue and has been lazy with expenditure. They have reduced expenditure by GH¢5 billion. They are not making impact,” he stated.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
