Finance Ministry allocates 2026 ABFA funds to Accra-Kumasi expressway

The Ministry of Finance has announced that all 2026 Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) allocations have been dedicated to the Accra-Kumasi Expressway project. This decision aims to consolidate petroleum revenues into a single high-impact infrastructure project, addressing long-standing criticisms regarding the thin dispersal of oil funds across multiple smaller initiatives. By focusing the entire 2026 allocation on this major transport artery, the government intends to ensure the project’s timely completion and maximum economic impact.

The Ministry’s statement comes as a response to the Public Interest and Accountability Committee’s (PIAC) 2026 Semi-Annual Report on petroleum revenue management. The report, presented by PIAC Chairman Richard Ellimah, called for more transparency regarding the "Big Push Agenda" and expressed concerns over the effective monitoring of expenditures. While the report noted a significant increase in petroleum revenue receipts due to higher global oil prices, PIAC emphasized that compliance with the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA) must be enhanced, noting that there have been no prosecutions for non-compliance in 15 years.

Defending its strategy, the Finance Ministry explained that concentrating the 2026 ABFA on the expressway aligns with PIAC’s previous recommendations to avoid spreading funds too thinly across less effective projects. To address potential concerns regarding the funding of other sectors, the Ministry clarified that the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) is currently being sourced from the Consolidated Fund. This ensures that local assemblies are not adversely affected by the decision to prioritize the Accra-Kumasi project.

In a commitment to ongoing accountability, the Ministry stated it has provided PIAC with the necessary data regarding the use of ABFA resources and petroleum revenue receipts. The government plans to continue publishing relevant information in various fiscal reports to ensure transparency. As oil revenues remain subject to market volatility, the focus on a singular, high-value infrastructure project represents a strategic shift in how Ghana manages its petroleum wealth for long-term national development.