Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, delivered a scathing critique of the 2025 budget and economic policy, characterizing it as devoid of solutions to the pressing economic challenges facing Ghanaians. He argued that despite the government’s pronouncements of a reset of the economic trajectory, the budget fails to offer tangible measures to address the escalating cost of living, particularly in areas like food prices, transportation, and unemployment. Nkrumah contended that the government’s focus on boosting production while neglecting crucial aspects of the food supply chain, such as transportation, storage, and pricing, would ultimately prove ineffective in curbing food inflation. He predicted a continued rise in food prices, citing the budget’s lack of concrete interventions to address the systemic issues contributing to inflation. This oversight, he asserted, leaves Ghanaians without hope for relief from the burden of rising food costs.
Nkrumah’s criticism extended to the budget’s handling of transportation costs. He argued that the absence of specific measures to mitigate the impact of market forces on transport fares would inevitably lead to further increases, placing an additional burden on Ghanaians. He highlighted the government’s purported commitment to a free market approach, noting that while it can stimulate economic growth, it can also lead to price volatility, particularly in essential sectors like transportation. The lack of intervention, he stated, demonstrates a disconnect between the government’s rhetoric and the lived reality of citizens grappling with rising transportation expenses. This, he argued, further reinforces the notion that the budget offers no tangible solutions to the everyday economic struggles faced by the populace.
The MP also expressed deep concern over the budget’s stance on public sector employment. Citing a specific paragraph within the policy document, Nkrumah revealed a net freeze on public sector hiring, effectively dashing the hopes of many seeking employment within the government. He lamented this decision, arguing that it would further exacerbate the already pressing issue of unemployment in the country. He suggested that this freeze signifies a misplaced priority, as it fails to address the root causes of unemployment while simultaneously limiting opportunities for skilled individuals to contribute to the public sector.
Nkrumah’s critique underscores a fundamental disconnect between the government’s stated intentions and the actual content of the 2025 budget. He argued that the government’s emphasis on production, while laudable, is insufficient without complementary policies addressing the logistical and structural bottlenecks within the food supply chain. The absence of concrete strategies to curb rising transport fares and the imposition of a public sector hiring freeze, he pointed out, further compound the economic challenges faced by ordinary Ghanaians. He warned that these policy choices would likely perpetuate the cycle of rising costs and limited opportunities, undermining the government’s stated goal of economic revitalization.
The former Information Minister’s analysis paints a bleak picture of the economic outlook under the proposed budget. By focusing on production without addressing critical downstream factors, the budget risks exacerbating existing challenges. The continuous rise in food prices, coupled with increasing transport fares and limited job prospects, presents a formidable obstacle for Ghanaians struggling to make ends meet. Nkrumah’s critique serves as a stark reminder of the need for a more holistic and nuanced approach to economic policy, one that considers the interconnectedness of various sectors and the direct impact of policy choices on the lives of citizens.
In essence, Nkrumah’s critique of the 2025 budget boils down to a perceived lack of concrete solutions to the pressing economic issues facing Ghanaians. He argues that the budget, while emphasizing production, neglects crucial aspects of the economic ecosystem, leading to an unsustainable situation for ordinary citizens. The rising cost of food, escalating transport fares, and limited employment opportunities paint a grim picture of the future under the proposed budget. Nkrumah’s analysis calls for a more comprehensive and pragmatic approach to economic policy, one that addresses the root causes of these challenges and provides tangible solutions for the benefit of all Ghanaians. He ultimately argues that the budget, in its current form, offers little hope for a true economic reset and leaves the populace grappling with the harsh realities of a struggling economy.
