By Daniel Bampoe
The fiscal discipline and constitutional integrity are once again under the spotlight following revelations that the Ministry of Finance has approved a staggering GH₵50.9 billion expenditure for the National Democratic Congress government’s Big Push Infrastructure Programme without prior approval from Parliament.
The authorization, which covers a three-year period from 2025 to 2027, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers, constitutional experts, and sections of civil society who fear the move could set a dangerous precedent for fiscal governance.
The controversy was first triggered by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, who described the action as a “brazen act of grand corruption and fiscal lawlessness.”
His public statement, which has since gone viral on social media, accused the government of breaching both the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act, 2016 (Act 921) and Article 181 of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates parliamentary approval for all major financial commitments spanning multiple fiscal years.
According to confidential correspondence between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Roads and Highways dated July 2025, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson granted the Roads Ministry a multi-year expenditure commitment authorisation amounting to GH₵50,986,620,125.28.
The commitment is scheduled across three years — GH₵7.6 billion for 2025, GH₵12.7 billion for 2026, and GH₵30.5 billion for 2027.
The authorisation, titled “Commitment Authorisation for Projects under the Big Push Programme”, was intended to enable the Roads Ministry to commence an ambitious network of road and bridge projects nationwide.
The list includes over 40 major roadworks such as the Techiman–Wenchi–Sawla corridor, the Wa–Lawra–Tumu rehabilitation, the Cape Coast–Takoradi dual carriageway, the Sunyani and Kumasi Outer Ring Roads, and the Enchi–Elubo reconstruction project in the Western Region.
But the move has reignited debate about the separation of powers and accountability in the public finance system.
Constitutional And Legal Breaches
Under Section 33 of the PFM Act, any government entity that enters into a multi-year expenditure or contingent liability must secure both the written approval of the Finance Minister and explicit authorization from Parliament.
Ekow Assafuah argues that while the Minister of Finance granted approval, Parliament was not consulted or involved in the authorization process, making the entire GH₵50.9 billion commitment unconstitutional.
“The government approved GH₵13 billion for the Big Push Project in the 2025 Budget,” he stated. “But the Finance Ministry has unilaterally committed the country to spend nearly four times that amount over the next three years without Parliament’s consent. This is an affront to the rule of law and a dangerous abuse of executive authority.”
Fiscal Burden And Rising Debt
The financial implications of this unauthorized expenditure are immense.
The public debt currently hovers around GH₵760 billion. Economists warn that such multi-year commitments, if not backed by revenue sources or loan guarantees, could exacerbate arrears accumulation and strain the country’s already fragile fiscal framework.
Ekow Assafuah emphasized this risk, cautioning that the move could lead to billions in unpaid obligations in subsequent years.
“When revenue projections are consistently missed and arrears continue to build up, this kind of unauthorized spending will only deepen Ghana’s debt hole. It’s a clear case of mortgaging the future,” he warned.
Inflating Road Costs
He also accused the government of inflating project costs under the guise of infrastructure expansion. Using the Enchi–Elubo Road (71.25 km) as an example, he claimed that its GH₵1.4 billion cost translates to over USD 1.7 million per kilometre.
“During their time in opposition, they called USD 1 million per kilometre ‘wasteful.’ Today, they are building roads at nearly double that rate,” he stated, calling the administration’s actions hypocritical.
Inside the Finance Ministry Letter
A copy of the official Ministry of Finance letter available to The Daily Gist, signed by Dr. Ato Forson, confirms the approval of the multi-year commitment.
The document, referenced MOF/HMPFM-CD/07-11/CA-063, outlines strict guidelines for contract execution — prohibiting advance payments, indexation to foreign currency, or interest on delayed payments. It also insists on adherence to the Public Procurement Act and all related financial management laws.
However, critics argue that these administrative controls do not absolve the core constitutional violation.
