In a scathing critique of the 2026 Budget presented by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin described the budget statement as “Part II of the lamentations.”
Speaking in Parliament following the budget announcement on Thursday, November 13, Afenyo-Markin expressed disappointment with the government’s failure to address critical issues and follow through on promises made in the previous year’s budget.
Afenyo-Markin, in his address to Parliament, remarked that despite months of preparation, the Finance Minister’s statement was essentially a repetition of the previous year’s woes. “After several months on the job, he came to repeat the same lamentations—this is Part II of the lamentations,” he said, criticizing the lack of fresh solutions or strategic plans for the country’s economic challenges.
One of the most glaring criticisms raised by the Minority Leader was the Finance Minister’s failure to properly allocate funds for parliamentary activities. According to Afenyo-Markin, the budget failed to reflect the crucial role Parliament plays in providing oversight and holding the executive accountable. He pointed out that despite Parliament being the only institution with the mandate to carry out oversight duties, the Finance Minister allocated a paltry sum to support Parliament’s work.
Afenyo-Markin further criticized Dr. Forson’s apparent disregard for parliamentary procedures, highlighting that the Finance Minister, who is also a Member of Parliament, should have shown greater respect for the institution’s work. “When the minister himself is a member of Parliament and fails to recognize Parliament and its work, look at the ministers and their faces. In 2025, he should tell us the releases he gave them. When he was mentioning the figures, the ministers were looking as if this was the first time they were seeing the figures. Was there any consultation?”
Another issue raised by the Minority Leader was the absence of any reference to a controversial GHS 20,000 monthly allocation purportedly sent by President John Dramani Mahama’s office to each constituency. According to Afenyo-Markin, Mustapha Gbande, the Director of Operations at the Presidency, publicly claimed that the Presidency allocates GHS 20,000 monthly to each constituency to support National Democratic Congress (NDC) activities. This, he argued, adds up to a total of GHS 66 million per year.
Afenyo-Markin questioned where these funds were coming from, noting that the Finance Minister failed to account for this large sum in the budget. “The minister attempted to provide some figures, but he failed to include the GHS 20,000 allocation. In the 2025 budget, the Director of Operations at the Jubilee House, Mr. Mustapha Gbande, publicly said every month, the Presidency gives GHS 20,000 to each constituency. But the Finance Minister has not accounted for this,” Afenyo-Markin said, leaving a key question unanswered about the origins and transparency of these funds.
Source: metrotvonline.com
