BY Daniel Bampoe
The Member of Parliament for Tafo, Ekow Assafuah, has raised serious concerns over the presentation of the 2026 national budget, specifically the way the government has handled allocations for National Security.
In a statement released on Thursday, Ekow Assafuah argued that the government is engaging in “budget gymnastics” by repackaging significant expenditures, giving the false impression of reduced spending under the Office of the President.
According to Ekow Assafuah, in the 2025 budget, Government Machinery—which included the Office of the President, the Chief of Staff, National Security, and operations under Felix Ofosu-Kwakye and his Deputy—was allocated GHS 3.83 billion.
In the 2026 budget, this figure jumps to GHS 5.11 billion, with GHS 1.36 billion labeled as Government Machinery and an additional GHS 3.75 billion assigned to National Security as a separate line item.
Ekow Assafuah emphasized that the restructuring does not indicate new or independent spending. “National Security remains fully controlled by the Presidency,” he stated.
“Separating it as a standalone budget item does not alter who manages these funds; it is a cosmetic adjustment meant to mislead the public.”
The MP also pointed to the GHS 20,000 monthly constituency handouts distributed by Mustapha Gbande, suggesting that these disbursements are funded through this very National Security allocation.
He argued that this practice raises transparency and accountability concerns, as it is unclear how funds intended for security operations are being used for political or constituency purposes.
Ekow Assafuah noted that Parliament’s oversight role is being undermined by such accounting practices.
“Ghanaians deserve clarity on how their taxes are being spent. Reclassifying massive amounts of Presidential expenditure under National Security does not constitute transparency—it obscures the true cost of running the Presidency,” he said.
He further highlighted that this move comes amid broader concerns over public financial management, including delayed funding for key government projects and initiatives.
The MP called for detailed disclosure and justification of all allocations under the Presidency and National Security to restore public trust.
The NPP lawmaker has vowed to continue scrutinizing the budget and exposing what he describes as “creative accounting tricks,” stressing that citizens must have a clear understanding of how public funds are allocated and spent, particularly for critical areas such as national security.
