A leading communicator of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and aspirant for the Upper East Regional Communication Officer position, Johnson Ayine, has raised concerns about the 2026 budget, stressing that the government’s limited emphasis on capital expenditure undermines efforts to drive sustainable economic growth.
Speaking on A1 Radio, Mr. Ayine noted that while global economies—including developed countries and private sectors—are competing aggressively for growth, Ghana’s government does not appear to be matching this ambition with the necessary level of investment in capital projects.
According to him, capital expenditure forms the foundation for delivering tangible infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals, and water systems, which directly improve the purchasing power and livelihoods of citizens.
“When the capital is not that much, you ought to be worried,” he emphasized. “Capital expenditure will deliver the tangibles—the infrastructure that will propel the growth of the economy. That is what gives you and myself the purchasing power to enter a market and purchase.”
Mr. Ayine argued that instead of prioritizing such investments, the current administration seems more focused on projecting positive economic indicators, even when the fundamentals do not reflect the lived reality of ordinary Ghanaians.
Providing context for his analysis, he traced Ghana’s political and ideological evolution from the Rawlings era to the present, observing what he described as ideological confusion—particularly within the NDC—which he believes has weakened policy direction over time. He stated that while the NPP has maintained clear ideological roots as centre-right liberal democrats, the NDC has often struggled to distinguish between socialism and social democracy.
“Being socialist is different from being a social democrat,” he explained. “If you look at the NDC, the social policies they are even improving upon in this budget are NPP-born—school feeding, capitation grant, free education, LEAP.”
Mr. Ayine concluded that although the NPP’s ideology focuses on liberalizing the system to empower individuals, the party also recognizes Ghana’s developmental realities and therefore supports essential social interventions.
His comments add to ongoing national debates on whether the 2026 budget adequately addresses Ghana’s infrastructural and economic priorities.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Moses Apiah|Bolgatanga
