Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that the government has paid GH¢24.8 billion to statutory funds since January 2026 to support education, healthcare, road maintenance and local development.
According to him, the payments represent a departure from previous practices characterised by delays, capping and the accumulation of arrears, which affected the timely release of funds to statutory institutions.
“Unlike in the past, when payments were marked by delays, capping and arrears, we now release these funds on time and in full,” Dr Forson said.
He continued, “This ensures statutory funds have the money they need to provide the essential services required by law.”
The announcement follows the release of the third-quarter allocations to statutory funds for 2026, as the government continues to meet its funding obligations to institutions responsible for delivering essential public services.
The funds and programmes covered include the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) Programme, the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
Others are the Road Maintenance Trust Fund, the Mineral Development Fund and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
The statutory funds support various aspects of national development, including access to education, healthcare delivery, infrastructure development and the provision of services at the local government level.
GETFund, for instance, supports educational infrastructure and other interventions in the education sector, while the Free SHS Programme provides funding for the implementation of the government's free secondary education policy.
The District Assemblies Common Fund provides resources for local development projects, while the National Health Insurance Fund supports the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The Road Maintenance Trust Fund contributes to the maintenance of the country's road network, while the Mineral Development Fund and the Minerals Income Investment Fund support development initiatives and investment activities linked to Ghana's mineral resources.
The timely release of allocations is expected to help beneficiary institutions plan their activities, meet financial obligations and implement programmes without disruptions caused by funding delays.
For local authorities, predictable funding can support the planning and execution of development projects, including improvements in basic infrastructure and the delivery of services in communities.
In the education and health sectors, the availability of funds is also important for sustaining programmes and ensuring that institutions can meet their operational needs.
The GH¢24.8 billion figure covers payments made since January 2026. Further details on the amounts allocated to each fund were not provided in the statement.
We have paid GH¢24.8 billion to statutory funds since January 2026 to support schools, healthcare, roads and local development.
— Cassiel Ato Forson (PhD) (@Cassielforson) October 21, 2026
Unlike in the past, when payments were marked by delays, capping and arrears, we now release these funds on time and in full.
This ensures statutory funds have the money they need to provide the essential services required by law.
