Mahama’s economic vision ‘unclear and troubling’ – CDM deconstructs 2025 budget

The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) has criticized the 2025 Budget. They call it a mix of populist tax reliefs and irresponsible spending.

The CDM praised the cancellation of the E-Levy. They also welcomed allowances for Assembly Members. However, they noted that the budget lacks a clear economic strategy. This is crucial for stabilizing Ghana’s struggling economy.

A major concern is the GHC 2.7 billion allocated to the Office of Government Machinery. This amount is significantly higher than the GHC 327 million from the previous regime.

The CDM argued that such overspending is irresponsible during high debt and inflation. They warned that this could threaten macroeconomic stability.

The report criticized the administration's offer of only a 10% wage increase for public sector workers. This contrasts sharply with the 30% increase negotiated by the previous government.

“This raises questions about government priorities during a cost-of-living crisis,” said their statement.

While institutions like Deloitte and Bloomberg predict inflation may drop to 15% by year-end, CDM attributes this to global trends and past reforms.

“These improvements should not be credited to current leadership,” they stated.

The CDM called for clearer policies on proposals like the “24-hour economy” and “Big Push.” They noted that their absence from financial statements creates confusion rather than confidence.