{
  "id": 54419,
  "title": "Mid-Year Budget: ISSER urges government to prioritise spending efficiency in fiscal consolidation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/mid-year-budget-isser-urges-government-to-prioritise-spending",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-02T18:17:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/mid-year-budget-isser-urges-government-to-prioritise-spending-efficiency-in-fiscal-consolidation/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) has called on the government to prioritize spending efficiency in its fiscal consolidation efforts, stating that evaluating consolidation solely by expenditure cuts is inadequate. At the ISSER's Post-Mid-Year Budget Review Forum, the Institute's Director, Professor Robert Darko Osei, emphasized that Ghana's limited fiscal space necessitates the government improving the quality and impact of its spending while maintaining its fiscal adjustment program.\n\nProfessor Osei argued that achieving sustainable fiscal consolidation requires the careful prioritization of projects and enhanced value for money in public expenditure. He stressed that fiscal consolidation should not only focus on reducing expenditure but also on the efficiency of spending. To illustrate this point, he used road infrastructure as an example, highlighting that the sequencing of projects is crucial for maximizing the benefits of public investment.\n\nAccording to Professor Osei, the government should ensure existing projects are completed and fully operational before allocating scarce resources to new ones. This approach, he explained, would optimize the impact of public investment. He noted that while the government's commitment to fiscal consolidation is crucial for preserving macroeconomic stability, improving expenditure efficiency is equally important in creating fiscal space for growth-enhancing investments without placing additional strain on the public purse.\n\nThe ISSER Director's remarks come as economists analyze the implications of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review. The focus is on the government's capacity to sustain recent improvements in inflation, the exchange rate, and fiscal performance while addressing the needs for infrastructure development and social spending. The Post-Mid-Year Budget Review Forum gathered policymakers, economists, development partners, and private sector representatives to evaluate the government's mid-year fiscal policies and discuss the outlook for the Ghanaian economy.",
  "summary": "The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) is urging the government to place greater emphasis on the efficient use of public resources, arguing that fiscal consolidation should be measured not only by expenditure reductions but also by how effectively public funds are utilised. Speaking at ISSER’s Post-Mid-Year Budget Review Forum, the Director of […]",
  "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."
}