{
  "id": 19977718,
  "title": "2027 budget aims to change Ghana’s economy from import-driven to production-driven – Dr Atuahene",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/2027-budget-aims-to-change-ghanas-economy-from-import-driven-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T12:29:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/2027-budget-aims-to-change-ghanas-economy-from-import-driven-to-production-driven-dr-atuahene/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Banking consultant Dr Richmond Atuahene claims the 2027 budget aims to revamp Ghana's economy from being import-heavy to one that focuses on production. Addressing Ghanaians on Adom TV’s Nnawotwe Yi, he likened Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson's strategy to General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong's push for self-reliance. Atuahene argues that both acknowledged the need for structural change in the economy. He identifies the current economic model as the \"Guggisberg economy\" and outlines the country's significant spending abroad. For instance, Ghana imports onions from Niger for $180 million, tomatoes for $257 million, and spends $3.7 billion on rice and chicken, with chicken imports alone exceeding $700 million. Atuahene asserts that this reliance on imports is the reason for the cedi's poor performance. \"We’re here in Ghana and we import everything, and everybody is complaining that the cedi is not doing well. Why won’t the cedi perform poorly?\" he questioned. Atuahene believes the issue isn't the private sector's inability to produce these goods, but rather policy favoring imports over production, which has led to job creation in other countries instead. He points out that importing rice creates jobs in Vietnam, chicken in America, tomatoes in Burkina Faso, and onions in Niger. He attributes job scarcity in Ghana to the import-driven economy, stating that only finished products are arriving in the country. Highlighting the budget's short-term and medium-term measures, Atuahene indicates the government is already identifying rice growers to support, aiming to stop rice imports. He emphasizes that farming and local production are key to job creation and GDP growth, urging Ghanaians to support this plan. Atuahene describes the current job market harshly, noting that graduates often opt for jobs in the police or military due to the private sector's inability to provide employment opportunities.",
  "summary": "Banking consultant Dr Richmond Atuahene says the 2027 budget is an attempt to restructure an economy built on importing finished goods, and he is urging Ghanaians to back it. Speaking on Adom TV’s Nnawotwe Yi on Saturday, he compared Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson’s approach to the push for self-reliance under General Ignatius Kutu […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}