Ghanaians Anticipate 2025 Budget for Economic Relief Amid Hardship

As the government prepares to present the 2025 national budget on Tuesday, Ghanaians across various sectors are hopeful that it will address the nation’s most pressing challenges, including the high cost of living, poor infrastructure, and rising unemployment.

Individuals and businesses alike have voiced their concerns about the economic hardships they face, with many struggling to cope with escalating food prices, energy costs, and transportation expenses. Over the past year, inflation has remained a critical issue, severely impacting the purchasing power of the average Ghanaian. Citizens are now looking to the upcoming budget for decisive measures to alleviate the burden.

“I’m hoping this year’s budget will include strategies to bring down the cost of living. Everything is expensive, and it’s becoming difficult to manage on my salary,” said Bridget Sewornu, a civil servant in Accra. “It’s not just food, but transportation and rent have gone up too. We need solutions.”

Business owners have also expressed concerns about poor infrastructure, which has hampered their operations and limited growth potential. Many businesses, particularly in rural areas, are still grappling with poor road networks, unreliable power supply, and insufficient internet access, which has affected productivity and efficiency. These infrastructure deficits, they say, are hindering the country’s potential for economic growth.

George Mensah, the owner of a medium-sized logistics company, stressed the need for infrastructural improvements. “The road networks, especially in the northern part of the country, are in terrible shape. It takes us much longer to move goods, and the damage to vehicles is high. We need serious investment in infrastructure if we want to see the economy grow,” he noted.

In addition to infrastructure, unemployment remains a significant challenge in Ghana, with many young people finding it difficult to secure stable jobs after completing their education. While the government has launched several initiatives to tackle youth unemployment, the scale of the problem continues to rise. Youth advocacy groups are hoping the 2025 budget will provide more substantial solutions to create jobs and reduce the country’s unemployment rate.

“I’ve been job hunting for two years now after finishing university, and I’m losing hope. We need to see more programs aimed at creating jobs for young people,” said Samuel Tetteh, a recent graduate.

Businesses are also calling for policies that stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation. Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are struggling to access financing and support, limiting their ability to scale and create employment opportunities.

“I would like to see this budget include incentives for businesses like mine,” said Akosua Amponsah, an entrepreneur in the food processing industry. “We need access to affordable financing, tax breaks, and more government support to expand and hire more people.”

With the 2025 budget expected to address economic recovery measures following the global cut in aid, many are calling on the government to focus on policies that not only stabilize the economy but also prioritize long-term growth.