The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has publicly challenged claims by the Ministry of Finance that it has released GH¢1.6 billion, representing 85 per cent of the ministry’s 2026 budget allocation, describing the assertion as inconsistent with official government budget execution records.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Minister for Food and Agriculture, MOFA said documents originating from the Ministry of Finance itself do not support the claim that such an amount has been made available to the ministry for expenditure.
According to the statement, the Ministry of Finance issued a Commitment Authorization to MOFA on February 15, 2026. However, four days later, on February 19, the Finance Ministry reportedly issued its First and Second Quarter Budget Allotment Letter, which capped the ministry’s expenditure for the first half of the year at GH¢910 million.
MOFA further stated that the accompanying allotment schedule placed even tighter restrictions on actual spending, limiting expenditure between January and June 2026 to approximately GH¢453 million. The allocation was expected to cover staff compensation, contractual obligations, and operational activities.
The ministry disclosed that the approved allocations covered several key agricultural interventions, including GH¢172.5 million for Farmer Service Centres, GH¢77.3 million for fertiliser and certified seeds, GH¢36.7 million for the Nkokonkitinkiti Programme, GH¢30 million for the National Food Buffer Stock Company, GH¢26.25 million for irrigation infrastructure, and GH¢4.5 million for the Feed Ghana Programme.
MOFA maintained that since the issuance of the allotment letter, it has not received any additional authorisation from the Ministry of Finance that would justify claims that GH¢1.6 billion has been released to the ministry.
The ministry therefore questioned the basis of the figure being cited publicly.
“If the Ministry of Finance officially capped MOFA’s spending through its allotment system and has not issued any subsequent authorisation, where exactly is this GH¢1.6 billion figure coming from?” the statement asked.
The ministry argued that public financial management must be guided by official allotments, cash releases, and approved expenditure ceilings rather than public statements that are not supported by budget execution documents.
MOFA stressed that transparency and accountability remain critical in the management of public finances, particularly in the agricultural sector, which plays a vital role in national food security, job creation, and economic growth.
The statement, signed by Samuel Huntor, Media Liaison Officer at the Office of the Minister for Food and Agriculture, indicated that supporting documents, including the Commitment Authorization and Budget Allotment Letters issued by the Ministry of Finance, have been attached to substantiate the ministry’s position.
