The Member of Parliament (MP) for Savelugu, Hon. Hajia Fatahiya Abdul Aziz, has condemned the 2026 Budget and Economic Policy, warning that the government’s continual underfunding of social protection programmes poses serious risks to Ghana’s most vulnerable groups.
Speaking during the parliamentary debate on Thursday, November 20, 2025, the MP expressed concern over what she described as a persistent and troubling pattern of inadequate investment in welfare interventions.
According to her, allocations to major social protection initiatives, including LEAP, the Ghana School Feeding Programme, and other transfers, amount to GH¢3.46 billion, representing only 0.22% of GDP, far below accepted international standards for developing economies.
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“This is not simply a budgetary shortfall; it is a reflection of misplaced priorities. At a time when poverty and vulnerability are worsening, this budget fails to deliver meaningful protection,” she stated.
Hon. Abdul Aziz lamented that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, which oversees the bulk of the country’s welfare programming, remains grossly underfunded, receiving only 1.1% of total government expenditure for 2026.
She stressed that the Ministry’s capital expenditure stands at a mere GH¢11.6 million, just 0.36% of its allocation. “This level of under-resourcing will hinder the expansion of welfare offices, digital systems, shelters and rescue centres,” she warned.
The Savelugu MP expressed particular alarm over the drastic cuts to two essential support instruments, the Domestic Violence Fund and the Child Trafficking Fund, which both receive GH¢1 million each in the 2026 budget, down from GH¢2.7 million and GH¢2.1 million in 2024.
“These cuts are not only unjustified but dangerous. Such minimal allocations cannot support shelters, psychosocial services, rescue operations or rehabilitation for survivors,” she said.
Hon. Abdul Aziz also criticised the absence of clear budget lines for initiatives such as the Sanitary Pad Programme and Women in Trade, arguing that vague commitments without funding make accountability impossible.
“A promise without a price tag is merely a public relations exercise,” she asserted.
The MP flagged what she called new neglects, noting the lack of gender-responsive targeting in flagship programmes such as the 24-Hour Economy and infrastructure initiatives.
For rural women farmers in constituencies like Savelugu, she said the budget falls short in providing climate-resilient inputs, financial inclusion support, and livelihoods programmes.
Hon. Abdul Aziz called for the government to realign its spending priorities. “A budget is the clearest expression of a government’s priorities. Ghanaians, especially the vulnerable, cannot thrive on promises. They require actual, targeted investments and accountable implementation,” she stressed.