Accra: Dr. Daniel Osabutey, a Senior Lecturer at the Business School of Accra Technical University, has urged the Ministry of Finance to enhance the quality and consistency of In-Year Budget Reports and to publish simplified citizens' budgets in multiple languages. This call aims to improve transparency and foster public participation in the budgetary process.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Osabutey emphasized the importance of making budget information accessible to ordinary citizens to rebuild public trust and improve accountability in public resource management. His remarks came in response to Ghana's declining performance in the 2025 Open Budget Survey, where the country's budget transparency score fell from 46 percent in 2023 to 22 percent in 2025, placing it below the Sub-Saharan African average of 38 percent.
Dr. Osabutey highlighted that Ghana's transparency score is a reflection of the health of the country's public financial management system. He noted that reversing the decline requires political commitment, institutional discipline, and genuine citizen involvement. He stated that a strong transparency score boosts democratic accountability, investor confidence, and fiscal credibility while reducing opportunities for waste and corruption.
He explained that budget transparency involves more than publishing technical financial documents; it includes providing citizens with timely, comprehensive, and understandable information on government financial activities. Dr. Osabutey identified inconsistent publication of key budget documents, particularly in-year reports, as a significant factor in Ghana's decline. These reports are crucial for tracking government spending and monitoring fiscal performance.
Dr. Osabutey urged the Ministry of Finance to create simplified citizens' budgets that present financial information clearly and accessibly, as many Ghanaians find budget documents too technical. He advocated for translating these budgets into major local languages to bridge the information gap between the government and citizens. This wider access would empower communities to monitor public spending, demand accountability, and contribute to national development discussions.
Dr. Osabutey also discussed the positive economic implications of stronger budget transparency. Transparent fiscal systems enhance investor confidence, strengthen policy credibility, and demonstrate a commitment to prudent financial management. He noted that development partners and international investors view budget transparency as an indicator of institutional strength.
Acknowledging recent reforms such as the establishment of an independent fiscal council under the amended Public Financial Management Act, Dr. Osabutey emphasized the need for continued efforts to improve public access to budget information. He called for the timely publication of all key budget documents and increased public education on the budget process, expressing confidence in Ghana's ability to reverse its declining transparency score with strong government commitment and citizen inclusion.