2025 budget has no hope – Afenyo-Markin declares

Alexander Afenyo-Markin is the Minority Leader and Effutu MP

The Minority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, has described the 2025 budget presented by the Minister of Finance in Parliament as one that offers no hope for the citizens.

Addressing the House on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Afenyo-Markin expressed concern that the budget did not address the issue of job creation for the unemployed youth.

He further criticised the government’s plans outlined in the budget, stating that the Mahama-led administration merely misled and deceived the people into voting them into power.

Afenyo-Markin also expressed surprise at the minister’s statement that the 24-hour economy policy, a key government initiative, would be presented to the House at a later date for further deliberation, despite the high expectations.

“The youth of this country have been waiting for this 24-hour economy policy and the minister tells us the policy will be brought later. Ei Ato! It is clear that all the jobs they promised the youth of this country was merely an ‘azaar’ promise. There is no inspiration from this budget. There is no hope in this budget,” Afeny-Markin said.

The 2025 budget statement addressed various sectors and outlined several measures by the government, including the abolishment of certain key taxes, the reintroduction of road tolls, and a review of petroleum and energy sector levies, among others.

The 2025 budget presentation was in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).