The Member of Parliament for Tano North and Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr Gideon Boako, has questioned the government’s fiscal strategy, arguing that reduced public expenditure should not be celebrated as fiscal discipline when it results in the cancellation or postponement of development projects.
Dr Boako said while government has highlighted improvements in its fiscal position, the reported underspending against amounts approved by Parliament raises concerns about whether the gains reflect greater efficiency or simply a failure to implement planned projects.
He cited an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report which, according to him, indicates that about 1,800 ongoing projects had been cancelled and roughly 2,000 others rephased.
He said the affected projects included roads, drainage systems, schools, hospitals, teacher and health-worker accommodation, agricultural warehouses and electricity infrastructure, all of which have direct implications for communities and households.
“Is Government genuinely becoming more efficient, or are projects simply not being implemented as planned?” Dr Boako asked, arguing that the government should not sacrifice development expenditure merely to achieve favourable fiscal indicators.
He compared the approach to a household that improves its finances by postponing essential repairs and obligations.
“A family can appear financially healthy by postponing roof repairs, delaying children’s school needs or refusing to fix a leaking pipe. The monthly budget may look impressive, but the underlying problems continue to grow,” he said.
Dr Boako maintained that genuine fiscal prudence must strike a balance between controlling expenditure and investing in projects that expand economic opportunities and improve living standards.
“Fiscal discipline should never become an excuse for development paralysis,” he said.