Ato Forson reads the 2027 Budget at 6pm today: the New Economy figures, the economy's starting point and what to listen for.

Published 12 Nov 2026, 06:46 GMT

4 min read

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson seated in Parliament — Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson in Parliament (file photo)

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Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson presents the 2027 Budget to Parliament at 6pm today, with jobs, the New Economy plan and taxes in focus.

Here is when to follow it, the promises to test, the state of the economy, and what each side wants to hear.

When and where

Dr Forson takes the floor at 6pm to set out the government's revenue and spending plans for 2027.

Majority Leader James Agalga has said the slot was fixed because of a state function earlier in the day — the launch of new currency notes — which the Finance Minister is expected to attend.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin objected on the floor on Wednesday, calling the evening hour strange and asking what the minister had to fear from a daytime reading.

The headline promises

The budget is built around the New Economy programme, a four-year plan running from 2027 to 2030 that the government says will restructure the economy around production and jobs.

Watch the dollar figure. At a KNUST forum, Dr Forson said the programme would get at least US$13 billion without fresh borrowing, financed by annual revenue worth 0.5 per cent of GDP and a lower primary surplus target of 0.5 per cent.

President John Mahama put investment in job-rich sectors at over US$9 billion, while earlier briefings put the four-year requirement at the cedi equivalent of US$10 billion. The budget should clarify what each figure covers.

On tax, the government is not expected to introduce new taxes. The budget is also expected to carry fiscal data up to October rather than September, as in previous years.

The numbers going in

Inflation stood at 5.5 per cent in October, the Ghana Statistical Service reported, up from 5.2 per cent in September. It was the third straight monthly rise, driven by transport, housing and services even as food inflation eased.

Growth has been firm. The GSS August index put economic activity up 6.8 per cent on a year earlier, led by services, while first-half GDP growth was 6.2 per cent.

What businesses and workers want

Businesses asked for affordable finance, predictable taxation with at least four months' notice of changes, and steadier power; only 32 per cent would invest under the 24-hour economy unconditionally.

Dalex Finance chief Joe Jackson told 3FM Midday News on Wednesday that the gains on inflation and interest rates had yet to reach jobs and incomes. He cited 34 per cent unemployment among people aged 15 to 35.

What the Minority will look for

Beyond the timing row, expect the Minority to press the jobs numbers, the cost of living, and whether the New Economy arithmetic adds up without fresh borrowing.

The opposition will also listen for what the budget says about wages, arrears and infrastructure, including the Accra-Kumasi Expressway sod-cutting expected before the end of the year.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

2027 Budget today: what to watch when Ato Forson reads it at 6pm

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