2026 Budget: Gov’t to create 800,000 jobs – Ato Forson
The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced that the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government is specifically designed to create up to 800,000 new jobs across various sectors of the economy.
He made this known on Thursday, November 13, when he presented the 2026 Budget Statement to Parliament.
Dr Forson explained that the government’s flagship infrastructure and industrial initiatives will serve as key drivers of employment creation.
He disclosed that the GH¢63 billion worth of road contracts awarded so far under the Big Push initiative is expected to generate an estimated 490,000 jobs, in line with World Bank metrics on job creation from road investments.
He further noted that three new garment factories being established under government’s industrialisation agenda will create over 20,000 direct jobs, while seven new agro-processing plants are expected to employ about 700 people directly and thousands more indirectly through their supply chains.
The Finance Minister also revealed that the National Policy on Integrated Oil Palm Development, which spans 2026 to 2032, will generate about 250,000 jobs across the oil palm value chain. Additionally, the ongoing establishment of Farmer Service Centres across the country will provide employment for thousands of people in machinery operation, maintenance, logistics, and other support services.
“These investments are not isolated; they are part of an integrated national effort to turn stability into jobs and growth,” Dr Forson stated.
To strengthen the private sector, which he described as the engine of job creation, the Minister announced that government has recapitalised the National Investment Bank (NIB) and will recapitalise the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) with GH¢1 billion before the end of 2025.
He also highlighted that GH¢401 million has been allocated to the Women’s Development Bank to provide affordable financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly women traders and market operators.
Dr Forson mentioned that the facility will support business owners such as Lamisi Adam, Priscilla Yovu, and Caroline Sfeir, whom he met during his engagements at the Takoradi Market Circle and the Kotokoraba Market.
