Parliament House, Accra — The Member of Parliament for Savelugu, Hon. Hajia Fatahiya Abdul Aziz, has criticised the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, describing the government’s allocations to social protection as inadequate and disconnected from the needs of vulnerable Ghanaians.
Contributing to the budget debate, the MP said that although the Finance Minister presented the budget as one aimed at resetting the economy for growth and transformation, the actual allocations reveal “deeply worrying trends,” especially in programmes meant to support women, children, and persons with disabilities.
Budget “Fails the Reset Test” for the Vulnerable
Hon. Abdul Aziz questioned the government’s commitment to closing the inequality gap, arguing that the numbers do not match the rhetoric.
“A reset for whom, Mr. Speaker?” she asked, stating that the budget “fails the reset test for our most vulnerable people.”
She noted that despite repeated promises, key gender policy frameworks—such as the Affirmative Action Bill—remain unimplemented, with the Legislative Instrument still pending.
Underfunding of Social Protection
The Savelugu MP criticised the allocation of GH¢3.46 billion to LEAP, the School Feeding Programme, and other safety nets—representing 0.22% of GDP. She said this figure is far below international standards and contradicts the African Union’s Agenda 2063 recommendation for countries to increase social protection spending toward 5% of GDP.
She further argued that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, which bears a heavy mandate, remains “grossly under-resourced,” receiving just 1.1% of total government expenditure.
Cuts to Domestic Violence and Child Protection Funds
Hon. Abdul Aziz expressed alarm at what she described as a troubling decline in financing for gender and child protection services. Allocations to the Domestic Violence Fund and Child Trafficking Fund have each been reduced to GH¢1 million, down from GH¢2.7 million and GH¢2.1 million respectively.
“This silence is a deafening abandonment of our women and children in their darkest hours,” she said.
She warned that the reduced funding is insufficient for shelters, investigations, victim support services, and anti-trafficking operations.
Weak Investment in Social Protection Infrastructure
The MP also pointed to the Ministry’s capital expenditure allocation of GH¢11.6 million, which represents just 0.36% of its total budget. She argued that such minimal investment threatens the development of welfare centres, rescue shelters, digital systems, and social welfare offices that are critical for delivering protection services.
“Gender-Blind” Initiatives
Hon. Abdul Aziz criticised the budget’s flagship programmes — including the “Big Push” infrastructure programme and the 24-Hour Economy initiative — for lacking gender-responsive planning.
She said the absence of clear targets for women-owned businesses, or measures to ensure job accessibility for women, risked widening existing inequalities.
Impact on Rural Women
Citing her constituency, she said rural women farmers and traders stand to benefit very little from the budget, which she argued fails to provide targeted support for climate-resilient agriculture, rural financing, and women-led micro-enterprises.
Call for Prioritisation
Summarising her concerns, Hon. Abdul Aziz said social protection remains below 2% of public spending, LEAP remains stagnant, and women and children’s protection systems are severely underfunded.
“The people of Savelugu and millions of Ghanaians cannot thrive on promises alone,” she concluded. “They require targeted investments and accountable implementation.”
Debate on the 2026 Budget is expected to continue as both sides of the House present contrasting perspectives on the government’s spending priorities.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
