Former Director of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Joseph Osei Oppong-Brenya, has sharply criticised the government’s 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, describing it as “a budget of lies, corruption, and announcement of presidential ambition.”
In a statement issued on July 24, 2026, Mr Oppong-Brenya questioned the government’s claims that funds had been released for various flagship programmes, including AdwumaWura, agriculture, youth employment, entrepreneurship and infrastructure.
He argued that despite the Finance Minister’s assurances in Parliament, many entrepreneurs and businesses had not seen the promised support on the ground.
“Where is the money on the ground?” he asked, insisting that the government’s claims of fund releases were inconsistent with the experiences of businesses and entrepreneurs across the country.
The former NEIP Director further alleged that the Mid-Year Budget Review focused more on promoting Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson’s political ambitions than addressing the country’s economic challenges.
He also criticised the government’s handling of the cocoa sector, claiming that cocoa farmers’ real incomes had declined due to rising production costs and inflation.
Mr Oppong-Brenya accused the government of abandoning successful entrepreneurship initiatives introduced under the previous administration, including YouStart and Obaatan Pa, and replacing them with what he described as an ineffective AdwumaWura programme.
He further expressed concern over the current state of NEIP, arguing that the agency had lost its effectiveness after being moved from the Office of the President to a sector ministry.
According to him, NEIP previously provided entrepreneurship training, business incubation and financial support to thousands of young entrepreneurs but has now become “a pale shadow of itself.”
The former NEIP Director also accused the government of excessive borrowing and alleged that corruption scandals had resurfaced under the current administration.
He called on the government to publish the list of beneficiaries of AdwumaWura and other entrepreneurship support programmes to demonstrate transparency and accountability.
The government has previously maintained that its economic policies and flagship programmes are aimed at supporting businesses, creating jobs and stabilising the economy. It has also defended the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review as reflecting improving macroeconomic indicators and continued investment in key sectors.
