Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has revealed significant funding priorities in the 2025 national budget, with a strong focus on boosting local industries and expanding infrastructure, including a substantial GH¢13.85 billion allocation for the Big Push initiative to drive development and job creation.
Presenting the budget on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson declared, “Mr. Speaker, I now take you to how these resources will be allocated in the year 2025,” highlighting the full uncapping of the GET Fund as a major step to secure long-term financing for Free SHS and free tertiary education for persons with disabilities.
“The overarching concern about free secondary education has been its quality and the absence of a dedicated source of funding. His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama has resolved the funding challenges by uncapping the GET Fund,” Dr. Forson told Parliament.
This move he revealed will inject an additional GH¢4.1 billion into the Free SHS programme, on top of the already allocated GH¢3.5 billion.
The minister further announced GH¢499.8 million for the “No Fees, No Stress” initiative, which abolishes non-academic fees for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions.
Dr. Forson added “Curriculum-based textbooks will also be provided, with GH¢564.6 million allocated for the printing and distribution of four sets of KG books and workbooks for about 2.8 million learners, four sets of primary textbooks for about 800,000 pupils, and nine sets of SHS textbooks for approximately 540,000 students. The capitation grant has been increased by 73.4% to GH¢145.5 million, while teacher and nursing training allowances will also be fully catered for.”
To promote menstrual hygiene among schoolgirls and expand support for vulnerable households, the government has earmarked GH¢292.4 million to begin distributing free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools, while also allocating GH¢953.5 million to the LEAP programme, a 30% increase aimed at raising the number of beneficiary households from 350,000 to 400,000 by July 2025.
In response to recent disasters, he revealed that GH¢242.5 million has been allocated to support victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage, while GH¢200 million is earmarked for residents displaced by tidal waves in parts of the Keta South constituency.
Read Also: 2025 Budget: The State of Our Economy Is Troubling, But We Will Fix It – Ato Forson Assures
In a major shift toward decentralization, the District Assemblies Common Fund will receive GH¢7.5 billion, with 80% of that amount proposed to be sent directly to districts. “In contrast to recent practices where only 50% of released funds reach the districts, we are ensuring that local authorities receive the resources they need to function effectively,” Dr. Forson emphasized.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson noted that the Road Fund has also been uncapped, with GH¢2.81 billion set aside for road maintenance, a 155% increase over 2024’s allocation.
Meanwhile, GH¢1.5 billion is allocated to the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Programme, targeting initiatives like Feed Ghana, the Ghana Grains Development Project, and vegetable production.
Other job creation and empowerment initiatives include GH¢300 million for the National Apprenticeship Programme, GH¢100 million each for the “Adwuma Wura” programme and the National Quotas initiative, and another GH¢100 million for the payment of monthly allowances to all Assembly Members with an additional GH¢51.3 million allocated as seed capital for the newly established Women’s Development Fund.
Read More @ATLFMNEWS.COM
Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
