The Bank of Ghana’s July 2024 Monetary Policy Report reveals that the country’s total expenditure for the first half of the year reached GH¢101.21 billion, representing 9.6% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This figure, while substantial, was slightly below the government’s target of GH¢104.77 billion, or 10% of GDP, by 3.4%. Despite falling short of the target, the report highlights a significant year-on-year increase of 66.5% in government spending, reflecting ongoing fiscal pressures.

The expenditure breakdown sheds light on key sectors where government funds were allocated, including employee compensation, interest payments, capital expenditures, and various government grants.

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The report also offers insights into the fiscal challenges faced by the government, such as debt restructuring and expenditure overruns, providing a comprehensive overview of Ghana’s public finances in the first half of 2024.

One of the largest portions of government spending in the first half of 2024 was dedicated to employee compensation, including wages, pensions, gratuities, and other wage-related expenses.

The total compensation expenditure amounted to GH¢29.30 billion, representing 39.5% of domestic revenue mobilized during the period. This was slightly below the target of GH¢29.96 billion, with a shortfall of 2.2%.

However, in comparison to the same period in 2023, employee compensation saw a year-on-year growth of 48.4%, signaling a continued rise in public sector wage bills.

The Increase suggests the government’s commitment to maintaining compensation for public servants despite fiscal constraints, but it also highlights the challenges of managing such a large share of domestic revenue in a tight fiscal environment.

Expenditure on Goods and Services

The expenditure on goods and services during the first half of the year amounted to GH¢5.77 billion, exceeding the government’s target of GH¢4.56 billion by 26.6%. Interestingly, this figure was lower than the GH¢6.25 billion spent during the corresponding period in 2023, indicating a year-on-year contraction of 7.6%.

This reduction may reflect the government’s efforts to control operational costs amidst a challenging fiscal landscape. However, the significant overrun above the target suggests that controlling costs in this category remains a difficult task for the government, potentially due to inflationary pressures or other unforeseen expenditures.

Total interest payments for the first half of 2024 amounted to GH¢19.03 billion, falling significantly below the target of GH¢26.35 billion. The report attributes this lower-than-expected interest payment to the government’s debt restructuring program, which has led to a partial freeze on debt servicing obligations. The restructuring is part of the government’s broader strategy to address Ghana’s fiscal and debt vulnerabilities.

This reduction in interest payments compares with GH¢13.39 billion in interest payments during the same period in 2023, demonstrating a marginal increase. The savings from lower interest payments provide some fiscal relief, yet the government continues to face challenges in managing its debt load and reducing the long-term cost of borrowing.

Grants to Government Units

Grants to various government units, including the National Health Fund, Education Trust Fund, Road Fund, and other earmarked funds, totaled GH¢19.70 billion in the first half of 2024. This was higher than the target of GH¢17.55 billion, reflecting a 12.2% positive deviation from the budget.

The grants saw an impressive year-on-year growth of 83.4%, underscoring the government’s prioritization of transfers to key sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure development.

These disbursements play a critical role in supporting essential public services and programs, and their increase points to the government’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations to these sectors, despite the broader fiscal constraints.

Capital expenditure, a key driver of economic growth, totaled GH¢13.91 billion in the first half of 2024, representing 1.3% of GDP. This was well below the government’s programmed target of GH¢19.13 billion, or 1.8% of GDP, falling short by 27.2%.

Despite missing the target, the report noted a year-on-year growth of 107.8%, which suggests an overall increase in capital spending compared to the previous year.

This increase in capital expenditure, although still below expectations, highlights the government’s efforts to invest in infrastructure and other long-term projects aimed at boosting economic growth and development.

Other expenditures during the period amounted to GH¢12.98 billion, which was a staggering 95.1% above the target of GH¢6.65 billion. A significant portion of this overrun can be attributed to energy sector payment shortfalls, which totaled GH¢10.60 billion, far exceeding the programmed target of GH¢2.84 billion.

This substantial deviation reflects ongoing challenges in the energy sector, which has been plagued by financial shortfalls and inefficiencies. The government’s inability to keep these expenditures within the programmed target suggests that further reforms may be necessary to bring the energy sector back on track.