TEMA, Ghana, 25th July: Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has thrown his support behind the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review presented by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, describing criticism from the Minority in Parliament as unfounded and politically motivated.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme on Saturday, July 25, Mr. Koomson said the budget review contained nothing that warranted the level of opposition mounted by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus.
He accused the Minority of opposing the government’s policies for the sake of opposition, likening their conduct to that of “Satan,” and urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration to remain focused on delivering its mandate rather than being distracted by political attacks.
His comments come after the Minority described the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review as uninspiring, arguing that it failed to introduce fresh measures to address the country’s infrastructure deficit and other critical sectors.
The caucus also criticized the review for providing no clear funding strategy or progress update on key health sector projects, including the stalled Agenda 111 hospital initiative.
Presenting the review in Parliament, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced that the government was not seeking additional funds or supplementary estimates, leaving the 2026 Appropriation Budget unchanged.
He further maintained the government’s GDP growth projection at 4.8 percent or higher, while targeting end-of-year inflation at approximately 8 percent, with a margin of plus or minus 2 percent.
While endorsing the overall direction of the budget, Mr. Koomson appealed to the Finance Minister to reconsider what he described as “nuisance taxes” that continue to burden businesses.
He specifically called for a review of the fumigation levy, the Import Declaration Form (IDF) levy, and the proposed cargo levy, warning that maintaining such charges would increase the cost of doing business, undermine productivity, and weaken efforts to stimulate industrial growth.
Mr. Koomson stressed that reducing the tax burden on businesses would improve Ghana’s competitiveness, encourage investment, and support the government’s broader economic recovery agenda.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭