Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson says government has disbursed GH¢24.8 billion in statutory funds payment since January 2026, covering schools, healthcare, roads and local development projects across the country.
He framed the figure as evidence of a clean break from how these funds used to be handled, when delays and capping were the norm rather than the exception.
"Unlike in the past, when payments were marked by delays, capping and arrears, we now release these funds on time and in full," Dr Forson said. "This ensures statutory funds have the money they need to provide the essential services required by law."
What Prompted the Announcement
The disclosure follows the release of third-quarter statutory funds for 2026, giving Forson an opportunity to put the year's cumulative figure on record.
The funds covered span some of the most consequential parts of government spending, including the Ghana Education Trust Fund, the Free Senior High School Programme, the District Assemblies Common Fund, the National Health Insurance Fund and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
Also on the list are the Road Maintenance Trust Fund, the Mineral Development Fund and the Mineral Income Investment Fund, institutions that rely heavily on predictable disbursements to plan infrastructure and development work months in advance.
Delays in statutory fund releases have historically forced district assemblies, hospitals and schools to scale back or postpone planned work, sometimes for months at a stretch.
Forson's point about full and timely payment speaks directly to that history, suggesting the institutions receiving these funds can now budget with more certainty than they could in previous years.
Whether the pace holds through the fourth quarter will likely shape how this claim is judged once the full-year numbers come in.
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