Civil society organisations (CSOs) have called on the Ghanaian government to accelerate the release of funds for climate action, gender-responsive programmes, and environmental protection. Kasa Initiative Ghana and ABANTU for Development, leading this call, stated that budget commitments must translate into tangible benefits for vulnerable communities. Their joint statement followed a review of the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy presented to Parliament in July.
The CSOs' review revealed significant gaps between allocated funds and actual releases for several critical programmes. For instance, the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme received only GHS 485 million by June, representing about 44% of its GHS 1.1 billion allocation for 2026. Similarly, the Ghana School Feeding Programme, budgeted at GHS 1.98 billion, had received GHS 877 million, also around 44%, by the same period. These shortfalls raise concerns about the pace at which resources reach beneficiaries and frontline institutions.
This situation highlights a recurring challenge in Ghana's public finance management, where budget allocations often do not fully translate into timely disbursements. Previous reports and analyses have frequently pointed to bottlenecks in fund releases, impacting the effectiveness of government programmes. The CSOs' observations underscore the need for improved fiscal discipline and accountability, particularly for initiatives targeting poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.
The organisations expressed particular concern regarding the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS). By June, NAIMOS had received only GHS 16 million, which is approximately 11% of its GHS 150 million allocation for 2026. "Given the state of Ghana’s forests and water bodies, the pace of funding to frontline environmental enforcement agencies is inadequate," the CSOs stated. This underfunding hampers efforts to combat illegal mining, known as 'galamsey', which continues to degrade Ghana's natural resources.
Further concerns were raised about the government’s response to the June 2026 floods in Greater Accra. Parliament approved GHS 350 million from the Contingency Fund for emergency flood response. However, this money could not be accessed due to a court garnishee order on the Fund. Consequently, the government reallocated GHS 226 million from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources' existing budget. A permanent solution to flooding has been deferred to the 2027 Budget, indicating a lack of preparedness for urgent environmental crises.
The CSOs also called for greater transparency in budget reporting. They cited the Ministry of Education's reporting of GHS 915 million for goods and services as a combined figure for sanitary pads and the Capitation Grant. The absence of a disaggregated figure for the Free Sanitary Pads Programme makes it difficult for citizens and civil society to track actual spending on this initiative. This lack of detailed reporting hinders public oversight and accountability.
Despite these challenges, the organisations welcomed the implementation of the first phase of the Women and Youth in Aquaculture Programme. This programme operates in 80 districts and benefits 4,000 people organised into 80 cooperative groups. This initiative demonstrates successful programme execution when funds are properly channeled and managed.
The CSOs noted that Ghana’s economic performance provides fiscal space for improved fund releases. They cited real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 6.4% in the first quarter of 2026. A primary balance surplus on both a cash and commitment basis also indicates an improved fiscal position. These positive economic indicators suggest the government has the capacity to meet its financial commitments.
Therefore, the organisations urged the government to prioritise investment in women farmers, fisherfolk, youth, and climate-vulnerable communities. These include northern Ghana, coastal areas, forest-fringe communities, and flood-prone urban settlements. They also called for the institutionalisation of Climate and Gender Budget Tagging across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). This would ensure better tracking of climate and gender-related spending.
The CSOs recommended publishing simplified annual reports showing allocations, releases, expenditure, and results. They also advocated for a national monitoring framework to track climate and gender outcomes, not just expenditure. Strengthening participatory budget monitoring through civil society engagement, Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys, and district-level accountability mechanisms is also crucial. These measures would enhance transparency and ensure funds reach their intended beneficiaries effectively.
Finally, the CSOs called for the restoration and strengthening of ecosystem restoration programmes, such as Tree for Life, with clear targets and reporting requirements. They urged the government to accelerate fund releases to NAIMOS and other frontline environmental enforcement agencies during the second half of 2026. For emergency funding, they stressed the need to protect the Contingency Fund and other disaster-response resources from legal encumbrances. This would enable prompt government responses to emergencies, safeguarding lives and property.