Ghana’s government will present its 2027 Budget to Parliament on November 12, with job creation, productivity and economic transformation set to dominate the agenda as the country seeks to convert hard-won macroeconomic stability into tangible improvements in living standards.
Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem announced the date on Thursday during the launch of the Ghana Statistical Service’s inaugural “Ghana in Numbers 2025” report in Accra, where he outlined the government’s policy direction for the coming fiscal year.
“The next phase of our economic programme must deliver jobs, higher incomes and broader opportunities,” Mr Ampem said. “Stability is the foundation. Productivity is the engine. Jobs and prosperity must be the destination.”
From Stabilisation to Transformation
The Deputy Minister pointed to recent economic gains as evidence that the government’s stabilisation efforts are bearing fruit. Ghana’s economy grew by 6 per cent in 2025 and 6.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, while inflation fell dramatically from 23.8 per cent in December 2024 to 5.2 per cent in September 2026.
The World Bank has maintained Ghana’s 2026 growth forecast at 4.8 per cent, projecting 4.9 per cent in 2027 and 5.0 per cent in 2028, citing stronger economic activity and progress in debt restructuring. Public debt fell from 70.1 per cent of GDP in 2024 to 48.8 per cent in 2025.
However, the government now faces pressure to ensure these gains translate into jobs. Data released alongside the Ghana in Numbers report revealed that nearly two million young people were not in employment, education or training in 2025, while about 13 million people faced food insecurity. The report also showed that while Ghana recorded a goods trade surplus of approximately GH¢148 billion, only 7.7 per cent of the country’s 2.64 million business establishments were formally registered.
New Economy Agenda
Mr Ampem indicated the 2027 Budget will outline the government’s “New Economy” agenda, with a focus on value addition to local resources, support for businesses and expanded opportunities for young people.
“We must move from exporting raw materials to exporting value, and from producing job seekers to nurturing innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators,” he said.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson is expected to present the budget under a theme reportedly titled “New Economy, New Ghana: Jobs and Prosperity,” though this has not been officially confirmed. The budget is expected to prioritise local value addition, completion of ongoing infrastructure projects and fiscal discipline within the government’s debt sustainability framework. Economic growth is projected at about 5 per cent in 2027, with an inflation target of 8 per cent with a tolerance band of 2 percentage points.
Call for Data-Driven Policymaking
The launch of Ghana in Numbers 2025 provided a backdrop for the budget announcement, with officials emphasising the importance of reliable statistics for evidence-based planning. Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu said the report compiles official data on population, social development, business, the economy, governance and the environment, supported by an online portal with district-level breakdowns.
Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama called on the Statistical Service to make underlying data available through an electronic portal to support research and policymaking. Mr Ampem echoed this, urging that all Members of Parliament be given access to the data dashboard to inform budget scrutiny.
The 2027 Budget is expected to balance fiscal consolidation with investments designed to transform the economy, strengthen resilience and expand employment opportunities for Ghanaians.
