2025 Budget: Government Allocates GH¢44.17bn for National Development Initiatives

The Government has earmarked approximately GH¢44.17 billion in the 2025 budget to support key national initiatives, with a focus on social protection, infrastructure, education, agriculture, and economic development.

In his budget presentation to Parliament on March 11, 2025, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson outlined the allocations, stressing the government’s commitment to economic recovery, social welfare, and structural reforms.

Key Allocations

A substantial portion of the budget is directed towards social protection programs to mitigate economic challenges and improve the well-being of citizens.

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been allocated GH¢9.93 billion.
The School Feeding Programme has received GH¢1.788 billion, reflecting a 33% increase in the cost of feeding per pupil daily.
The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme will see a 30.8% increase, bringing its allocation to GH¢953.5 million. This will expand the number of beneficiary households from 350,000 to 400,000 by July 2025.
The Capitation Grant has been raised from GH¢84 million in 2024 to GH¢145.5 million in 2025, a 73.2% increase.

Education and Skills Development

The government has committed GH¢3.5 billion for the Free Secondary Education Programme. An additional GH¢4.1 billion will be provided through the uncapping of the GETFund to fully fund free SHS education.

GH¢564.6 million has been allocated for free textbooks for students in kindergarten, primary, and junior high schools.
The “No-Fees-Stress” initiative will provide GH¢499.8 million for first-year students in public tertiary institutions, covering their academic fees.
A total of GH¢292.4 million has been set aside for the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students.
GH¢203 million has been allocated for Teacher Trainee Allowances, while GH¢480 million will go towards Nursing Trainee Allowances.

Infrastructure and Economic Growth

For infrastructure development, the Ghana Road Fund has received GH¢2.81 billion, marking a 155.5% increase from the previous year’s allocation.

GH¢7.51 billion has been allocated to the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), with at least 80% of the funds allocated directly to district assemblies for local development.
GH¢1.5 billion has been set aside for the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), which supports various agricultural projects, including the Feed Ghana Programme, Ghana Grains Development Project, and Vegetable Development Project.

Women’s Empowerment and Vocational Training

In line with its focus on gender equality, the government has allocated GH¢51.3 million as seed funding for the Women’s Development Bank, aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs.

GH¢300 million has been allocated for the National Apprenticeship Programme to provide vocational skills training for young people.

Disaster Relief

To aid communities affected by recent disasters, the government has committed:

GH¢242.5 million for victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage.
GH¢200 million for residents impacted by tidal wave disasters in Ketu South Constituency.

Strengthening Local Governance

The budget also includes GH¢100 million for the monthly allowances of Assembly Members to support local governance.

Furthermore, the government has allocated GH¢100 million each for the National Coders Programme and the ‘Adwumawura’ Programme, emphasizing its focus on digital transformation and job creation.

This comprehensive budget reflects the government’s commitment to addressing the pressing needs of the population while fostering long-term national development.