The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has criticised the government over the 2027 Budget, saying it offers little hope to Ghanaians.

Speaking at a post-budget press conference in Parliament on Thursday, November 12, 2026, he questioned the government's performance on job creation, its commitment to women and traders, and the implementation of key campaign promises.

He said the government's claims of economic recovery and growth must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Ghanaians.

Below are five key things he said about the budget

The 2027 Budget offers little hope

Afenyo-Markin said the budget presented by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson offered little hope, suggesting that it did not adequately address the concerns and expectations of Ghanaians.

Government has failed to account for jobs created

He questioned the government's job creation record, saying it had not been able to tell Ghanaians how many jobs it had created.

He insisted that employment remained a major concern for citizens and that economic statistics alone were not enough.

“They haven’t been able to tell us how many jobs they have created. Ghanaians want jobs, jobs, jobs. We are not interested in data. We are not interested in a paper economy. We are not interested in what they call a New Economy,” he said.

Women and traders have not received the promised bank

The Minority Leader also accused the government of failing to fulfil its campaign promise to establish a bank that would provide women and traders with loans to support their businesses.

He questioned the government's commitment to the promise, which he said had yet to materialise.

The 24-hour economy promise remains unfulfilled

Afenyo-Markin also cited the government's 24-hour economy initiative as another campaign promise on which he believes the administration has failed to deliver.

He argued that the government's inability to demonstrate tangible progress on its flagship initiatives had reinforced the Minority's earlier concerns about its performance.

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Government's economic figures must translate into real benefits

He questioned the emphasis on economic data and indicators, arguing that such figures would mean little to ordinary Ghanaians if they did not result in jobs, income and improved living conditions.

JKB/BAI

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