Where Is The Ghc1.6bn?- MoFA Challenges Finance Ministry Over Budget Claims

Jun 5, 2026 - 14:50

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The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has strongly pushed back against claims by the Ministry of Finance that it has released GH¢1.6 billion, representing 85 per cent of MOFA’s 2026 budget, describing the assertion as inconsistent with official government records.

In a detailed press statement signed by Media Liaison Officer Samuel Huntor, MOFA insisted that the figures being circulated do not align with the Ministry of Finance’s own budget execution documents, raising serious questions about transparency in public financial management.

According to MOFA, the Ministry of Finance issued a Commitment Authorisation on February 15, 2026, but just four days later followed up with a First and Second Quarter Budget Allotment Letter that significantly restricted spending.

That directive capped MOFA’s total expenditure for the first half of the year at GH¢910 million, with an even tighter operational ceiling of approximately GH¢453 million between January and June 2026 covering all obligations, including salaries, contracts and programme activities.

The Ministry emphasised that since the issuance of that allotment, no further communication has been received authorising additional spending that would justify the widely cited GH¢1.6 billion figure.

“If the Ministry of Finance officially capped MOFA’s spending through its allotment system and has not issued any subsequent authorisation, where exactly is this GH¢1.6 billion figure coming from?” the statement questioned.

The breakdown of allocations further paints a picture of constrained funding for key agricultural interventions. Among the allocations for the first half of the year were GH¢172.5 million for Farmer Service Centres, GH¢36.7 million for the Nkokonkitinkiti Programme, and GH¢77.3 million for fertiliser and certified seeds.

Other critical areas such as the Feed Ghana Programme received just GH¢4.5 million, while irrigation infrastructure was allocated GH¢26.25 million – figures MOFA suggests fall far short of the needs of the sector.

The ministry stressed that public financial management must be grounded in verifiable processes, including official allotments, cash releases and actual budget availability, not what it described as “public relations narratives".

“The Ghanaian people deserve transparency, accuracy and honesty in the management of public finances, particularly in a sector as critical as agriculture and food security,” the statement added.

To back its claims, MOFA attached official documents, including the Commitment Authorisation and the First and Second Quarter Budget Allotment Letter, which it says clearly show that its spending ceiling for the first half of 2026 was capped at GH¢910 million.