2025 budget sought to fulfil most of the campaign promises – Dr Sarkodie

The 2025 budget aims to fulfill key campaign promises, including the Women’s Development Bank (WDB), The Big Push, and the 24-hour economy, according to Dr. Adu Owusu Sarkodie, an economics lecturer at the University of Ghana.

The government has allocated GH¢51.3 million as seed funding for WDB to support women entrepreneurs by removing collateral barriers. Other social interventions include GH¢292.4 million for free sanitary pads and a 30.8% increase in Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) benefits, expanding beneficiaries to 400,000 households.

Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson emphasized fiscal consolidation, cutting expenditure by GH¢10 billion, while also increasing funding for the School Feeding Programme and Capitation Grant. Additionally, President Mahama's cost-cutting measures include reducing ministers from 123 to 60 and banning first-class travel for officials.