Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance is set to present the 2025 Budget to Parliament on March 11.
According to reports, this is the date the finance ministry has proposed to parliament.
The date is subject to Parliament’s acceptance and approval depending on developments in the House.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga in parliament made the announcement saying, “The Finance Minister has now proposed March 11, 2025 as the new date to bring the budget to the House for consideration”.
The question on many Ghanaians’ lips is will the e-levy and betting tax be finally scrapped by the John Mahama administration after they promised to do so.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson stated during his vetting that in his first budget as Finance Minister, he would abolish the betting tax and the e-levy.
According to Ato Forson, the betting tax and e-levy have failed to achieve their purpose.
Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday, January 13, Dr Forson stated, “I insist that the betting tax must be abolished, and as Finance Minister, I will abolish it in my first budget because it has failed,”
“My position on the e-levy is well known. I have written articles about it, and my position has not changed,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the country’s Financial Administration Act reveals the budget must be presented before March 31, 2025.
In January 2025 parliament approved a Mini Budget to cover the government’s spending from January to March 2025.
Parliament approved GH₵68.1 billion for the John Mahama administration to spend.
The Government on February 10, 2025, began high-level discussions with a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Mission Chief for Ghana, Stephane Roudet.
The meetings, which are set to start today, Monday, February 10, 2025, will continue until Friday, February 14, 2025.
According to a statement from the Finance Ministry, the primary focus of these discussions is to review Ghana’s progress under the IMF-supported programme and to outline the government’s policy direction for the 2025 Budget.
