How Ghana's elections actually works.

Ghana's budget isn't drafted overnight, and it doesn't belong only to the President. The cycle is a year-long conversation between the Ministry of Finance, every government agency, Parliament, and (in theory) the public.

“The budget cycle is the most consequential civic document most Ghanaians never read.”

It moves through four stages — preparation, approval, execution, and auditing. Each stage has its own actors, deadlines, and points where citizens can actually be heard.

The cycle begins eight months before the fiscal year. Each ministry submits funding proposals to the Ministry of Finance, which balances them against expected revenue (taxes, levies, grants, borrowing) and produces a consolidated draft.

Parliament then debates the draft. The Finance Committee holds hearings where civil society and experts can give input. Members debate, amend, and vote — and once passed, the budget becomes law.

Execution is where the money actually moves: ministries, departments, and agencies spend against their approved allocations, with funds released through the year.

Finally, the Auditor-General examines how public funds were actually spent and reports to Parliament, whose Public Accounts Committee holds hearings on any irregularities.