The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) are embroiled in what is described as public relations stunt with each battling hard to avoid public disgrace over an alleged disbursement of some GH¢1.6 billion to the latter.
A public dispute emerged between the two ministries over claims regarding the release of more than GH¢1.6 billion for agricultural programmes this year, with both sides presenting conflicting figures on budget execution.
The Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, recently told an international audience that his Ministry had released the said amount to MoFA, representing about 85% of the ministry’s 2026 budget allocation for Goods and Services as well as Capital Expenditure (CAPEX).
In a subsequent statement, the Finance Ministry indicated that the releases for Goods and Services stood at 94.73%, while CAPEX disbursements have reached 74.66%, arguing that this demonstrates strong budget execution.
“This is clear proof that the Ministry of Finance has released over GH¢1.6 billion to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, representing 85% of MOFA’s 2026 budget allocation for Goods and Services and Capital Expenditure (CAPEX),” the Finance Ministry insisted.
It further explained that except funding to the National Food Buffer Stock Company, all releases were initiated by MoFA through standard procedures on the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), with each transaction supported by requisition dates, journal numbers, approval dates, and warrant numbers.
The ministry maintained that this process reflected standard public financial management practice across all ministries, departments, and agencies.
MOFA’s rebuttal
Responding to the claims, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture vehemently disputed the figures, describing them as inconsistent with official budget execution documents issued by the Finance Ministry itself.
MoFA argued that although a Commitment Authorization was issued on 15 February 2026, the subsequent First and Second Quarter Budget Allotment Letter dated 19 February 2026 capped its total expenditure for the first half of the year at GH¢910 million.
It also explained that the accompanying allotment schedule further restricted actual spending between January and June 2026 to approximately GH¢453 million, covering staff compensation, operational costs, and contractual obligations.
MoFA listed allocations for key programmes as follows: Farmer Service Centres (GH¢172.5 million), Nkokonkitinkiti Programme (GH¢36.75 million), Fertiliser and Certified Seeds (GH¢77.3 million), Feed Ghana Programme (GH¢4.5 million), National Food Buffer Stock Company (GH¢30 million), and irrigation infrastructure (GH¢26.25 million).
It maintained it has not received any subsequent authorisation from the Finance Ministry to justify the claim that GH¢1.6 billion has been released beyond the stated ceilings.
MoFA questioned the basis of the Finance Ministry’s figure, arguing that public financial management is governed by official allotments and cash releases rather than public statements.
To avoid doubts, it attached relevant Commitment Authorization letters and allotment documents to support its position that its expenditure was capped at GH¢910 million for the first half of 2026.
Media Liaison Officer for MoFA Samuel Huntor reiterated that “the facts speak for themselves,” urging transparency and accuracy in reporting public financial data as the dispute continues.
Read the full statement by MoFA below:
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has taken note of a recent video and publication in social and tradoitioinal media in which the Ministry of Finance indicates that GH¢ 1.67 million representing 85% of the MoFA’s 2026 budget approval has been recieved.
For the information of the public, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture clarifies as Follows:
That as at Friday, 29th May 2026, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture had received total releases amounting to GH¢244,321,150.00 representing only 12.4 percent of the Ministry’s total approved budget of GH¢1,970,686,606.00.,
1.With respect to Goods and Services, an amount of GH¢35,387,967.00 was approved for the operations of the Ministry’s Headquarters and its Agencies.
However, only GH¢5,308,195.00, representing 15 percent of the approved allocation, had been released by the end of May 2026.
- Under the Poultry Farm-to-Table Project (Nkoko Nketenkete), which is one of the key flagship programmes aimed at increasing domestic poultry production, the approved budget for 2026 was GH¢244,985,117.00.
As at the end of May 2026, only GH¢67,369,742.00 had been released, representing approximately 27.5 percent of the approved budget.
2.The situation was more critical for the Fertilizer and Certified Seeds Programme (Grains, Vegetables, Roots and Tubers).
Against an approved budget of GH¢515,313,522.00, the Ministry had received only GH¢15,313,000.00 by the end of May, representing approximately 3 percent of the approved allocation.
- The National Food Buffer Stock Company, which was allocated GH¢200,000,000.00 in the 2026 budget to support grain purchases and strategic food reserves, had not received any releases as at the end of May 2026.
- On the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) side, no releases had been made for the construction of the Fifty (50) Farmers’ Service Centres, despite an approved budget allocation of GH¢690,000,000.00. Consequently, procurement processes and implementation activities for this critical intervention remain adversely affected.
In contrast, releases for Irrigation Infrastructure and Related Projects amounted to GH¢255,000,000.00 the total capital releases stood at GH¢150,330,214.00, representing 27% as at the end of May 2026.
END
The Media
SIGNED:
PUBLIC RELATION UNIT
MINISTRY OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE