Agric Ministry rejects Finance Ministry’s claim of 85% budget release for 2026

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has publicly disputed the Ministry of Finance’s announcement that 85 percent of its 2026 budget – amounting to GH¢1.67 billion – has been released, insisting that actual funding as of May 29, 2026, represents only 12.4 percent of its approved budget.

In a press release dated June 5, 2026, the Agric Ministry described the figures announced by Deputy Minister of Finance Thomas Nyarko Ampem as misleading. The ministry maintained that it continues to face significant funding constraints that are hampering the implementation of key agricultural programmes.

According to MoFA’s own records, total releases received as of May 29, 2026, stood at GH¢244,321,150 out of an approved budget of GH¢1,970,686,606 – just 12.4 percent.

The ministry detailed how the funding shortfalls have affected critical programmes. Under the Goods and Services category, only GH¢5,308,195 has been released out of an approved allocation of GH¢35,387,967 for headquarters and agency operations, representing approximately 15 percent.

The flagship Poultry Farm-to-Table Project, popularly known as Nkoko Nketenkete, has received GH¢67,369,742 out of an approved GH¢244,985,117 – about 27.5 percent.

More critically, the Fertiliser and Certified Seeds Programme has received only GH¢15,313,000 out of a budgeted GH¢515,313,522, representing a mere 3 percent of the approved allocation.

The National Food Buffer Stock Company has received no funding at all despite an approved allocation of GH¢200 million earmarked for grain purchases and strategic reserves.

On capital expenditure, MoFA expressed concern that no funds have been released for the construction of 50 Farmers’ Service Centres despite an approved budget of GH¢690 million. “Consequently, procurement processes and implementation activities for this critical intervention remain adversely affected,” the statement said.

The ministry, however, acknowledged that some irrigation-related capital projects had received funding support, with total capital releases standing at GH¢150,330,214 as of the end of May.

MoFA urged the public to disregard what it described as misinformation regarding budget disbursements, stressing that the figures it provided underscore ongoing financial constraints affecting agricultural transformation programmes in the country.