NEWS

2025 Budget Vows Fast Action on Unpaid Salaries & Reforms

2025 Budget Promises Swift Action on Unpaid Salaries and Procurement Reforms

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson made sweeping announcements in the 2025 Budget Statement, which was presented to Parliament on March 11, 2025, in an audacious attempt to restore budgetary restraint and increase public trust. The government is dedicated to paying hundreds of public sector employees their unpaid salary arrears and implementing strict procurement regulations to reduce unnecessary spending.

Dr. Forson highlighted that over 300 pharmacists, who have not received their salaries since their appointment in June 2023, will see immediate remedial action. “During our engagement with the youth and the public via social media, it became evident that a significant number of pharmacists have been waiting for their due salaries,” he stated. The minister assured Parliament that his ministry will take urgent steps to settle these arrears, emphasizing that prompt salary payments are critical to maintaining the morale and well-being of healthcare professionals.

Beyond addressing payroll delays, Dr. Forson outlined plans to tighten oversight on government expenditures by strictly enforcing the Public Financial Management Act and the Public Procurement Act. The new measures aim to prevent financial mismanagement and ensure that public funds are spent in line with approved budgetary allocations. “We are linking all procurement processes directly to our budgetary provisions and will impose severe sanctions on any breaches of financial discipline,” he added. This move, he explained, is designed to eliminate payroll fraud and prevent reckless spending that has plagued previous administrations.

The insights gained during the recent National Economic Dialogue, which took place from March 4 to March 10, 2025, influenced the minister’s comments. The necessity for improved financial monitoring and the effective use of national resources was emphasized by discussion participants, who included traders and public sector workers. It is anticipated that Dr. Forson’s planned reforms will have a significant impact, especially in ensuring that vital sectors receive the funds they require without being weakened by waste and corruption.

Under President John Dramani Mahama’s direction, the government is attempting to steer the country toward economic stability, and these budgetary measures are considered essential to the country’s overall recovery plan. By tackling wage arrears and implementing procurement regulations, Ghana hopes to rebuild public institutions’ credibility and establish a more open and accountable governance structure.

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