GFL Backs Mid-year Budget Review, Urges Review Of Business Levies
Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has endorsed the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review presented by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, dismissing criticism by the Minority in Parliament as politically motivated.
Speaking on Ahotor FM on Saturday, July 25, Mr Koomson said the budget review contained no major issues to justify the strong opposition mounted by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus.
He accused the Minority of opposing government policies for the sake of politics, describing their approach as unnecessary and urging the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration to remain focused on delivering its development agenda rather than being distracted by partisan criticism.
His remarks follow the Minority's rejection of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, which they described as uninspiring. The caucus argued that the review failed to introduce fresh measures to tackle Ghana's infrastructure deficit and other pressing national challenges.
The Minority also criticised the budget review for lacking a clear funding strategy and providing no meaningful update on key health infrastructure projects, including the stalled Agenda 111 hospital programme.
Presenting the review in Parliament, Dr Ato Forson announced that the government was not seeking supplementary estimates or additional appropriations, leaving the 2026 Appropriation Budget unchanged.
The Finance Minister also maintained the government's economic growth projection of at least 4.8 per cent for 2026 and reaffirmed its target of reducing inflation to about 8 per cent, with a margin of plus or minus two percentage points by the end of the year.
While expressing support for the overall direction of the government's fiscal policy, Mr Koomson urged the Finance Minister to reconsider a number of levies he described as burdensome to businesses.
He specifically called for a review of the fumigation levy, the Import Declaration Form (IDF) levy and the proposed cargo levy, arguing that such charges increase the cost of doing business, reduce productivity and undermine efforts to promote industrial growth.
According to Mr Koomson, easing the tax burden on businesses would improve Ghana's competitiveness, attract more investment and strengthen the government's broader economic recovery and industrialisation agenda.
-Overseeronline.com
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