Finance, Agriculture ministries clash over GHยข1.6bn funding claims
๐ Ghana โข by Blitano โข Jun 06, 2026
A public disagreement has erupted between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) over the amount of funding released for agricultural programmes in 2026, with both ministries presenting sharply contrasting accounts of budget execution.
The dispute was triggered by claims from the Ministry of Finance that it has released more than GHยข1.6 billion to MoFA this year, representing approximately 85 percent of the ministryโs allocation for Goods and Services and Capital Expenditure (CAPEX).
According to the Finance Ministry, releases for Goods and Services have reached 94.73 percent, while CAPEX disbursements stand at 74.66 percent, evidence, it says, of strong budget implementation.
The ministry further explained that, with the exception of transfers to the National Food Buffer Stock Company, all requests for funds were initiated by MoFA through the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) and processed using standard public financial management procedures.
However, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has rejected the figures, insisting they do not align with official budget execution documents issued by the Finance Ministry itself.
MoFA argues that although it received a Commitment Authorization on February 15, 2026, the First and Second Quarter Budget Allotment Letter issued four days later capped the ministryโs expenditure for the first half of the year at GHยข910 million.
The ministry further contends that the accompanying allotment schedule limited actual spending between January and June to about GHยข453 million, covering compensation, operational expenses and existing contractual obligations.
According to MoFA, allocations under the approved spending framework included GHยข172.5 million for Farmer Service Centres, GHยข77.3 million for fertiliser and certified seeds, GHยข36.75 million for the Nkokonkitinkiti Programme, GHยข30 million for the National Food Buffer Stock Company, GHยข26.25 million for irrigation infrastructure and GHยข4.5 million for the Feed Ghana Programme.
The ministry maintains that it has not received any subsequent authorisation or revised allotment from the Finance Ministry that would support claims that more than GHยข1.6 billion has been released.
The dispute was triggered by claims from the Ministry of Finance that it has released more than GHยข1.6 billion to MoFA this year, representing approximately 85 percent of the ministryโs allocation for Goods and Services and Capital Expenditure (CAPEX).
According to the Finance Ministry, releases for Goods and Services have reached 94.73 percent, while CAPEX disbursements stand at 74.66 percent, evidence, it says, of strong budget implementation.
The ministry further explained that, with the exception of transfers to the National Food Buffer Stock Company, all requests for funds were initiated by MoFA through the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) and processed using standard public financial management procedures.
However, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has rejected the figures, insisting they do not align with official budget execution documents issued by the Finance Ministry itself.
MoFA argues that although it received a Commitment Authorization on February 15, 2026, the First and Second Quarter Budget Allotment Letter issued four days later capped the ministryโs expenditure for the first half of the year at GHยข910 million.
The ministry further contends that the accompanying allotment schedule limited actual spending between January and June to about GHยข453 million, covering compensation, operational expenses and existing contractual obligations.
According to MoFA, allocations under the approved spending framework included GHยข172.5 million for Farmer Service Centres, GHยข77.3 million for fertiliser and certified seeds, GHยข36.75 million for the Nkokonkitinkiti Programme, GHยข30 million for the National Food Buffer Stock Company, GHยข26.25 million for irrigation infrastructure and GHยข4.5 million for the Feed Ghana Programme.
The ministry maintains that it has not received any subsequent authorisation or revised allotment from the Finance Ministry that would support claims that more than GHยข1.6 billion has been released.
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