Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has delivered the 2025 Budget to Parliament, highlighting crucial financial commitments aimed at propelling national development and tackling urgent social issues.
One measure to boost economic activity is the establishment of a Women’s Development Bank to support female-owned businesses.
During his presentation on March 11, 2025, Dr. Ato Forson stated: “Mr. Speaker, we have also allocated GH¢51.3 million as seed fund for the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank.”
Dr. Forson emphasised the government’s commitment to empowering women through financial inclusion as he made the announcement.
Outlining other measures and initiatives, Dr. Ato Forson pointed out that GH¢300 million would be directed towards the National Apprenticeship Programme, a significant step to improve vocational and technical skills among the youth.
“Mr. Speaker, we have also allocated GH¢100 million to the ‘Adwumawura’ Programme,” he added, referring to an initiative aimed at supporting employment and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Forson revealed a further allocation of GH¢100 million to the National Coders Programme, which aims to equip individuals with skills and opportunities in the technology sector.
In a significant policy update, the finance minister mentioned that GH¢100 million has been set aside for the monthly allowances of all assembly members, recognising their essential contribution to local governance.
He addressed the recent disasters affecting communities, assuring Parliament that sufficient resources have been allocated to the Ministry of Works and Housing to support victims of tidal waves in Agavedzi and surrounding areas in the Ketu South constituency.
Through these financial allocations, the Mahama-led administration seeks to cultivate economic resilience, uplift livelihoods, and strengthen community support structures throughout the nation.
Here is a breakdown of allocations to various sectors of the economy.
- GH¢13.85 billion: Allocation for the Big Push Programme.
- GH¢499.8 million: Allocation for the No-Academic-Fee policy for first-year students in public tertiary institutions.
- GH¢292.4 million: Allocation for the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and secondary schools.
- GH¢242.5 million: Allocation to support victims of the Akosombo dam spillage.
- GH¢200 million: Allocation to support victims of the tidal wave disaster in the Ketu South constituency.
- GH¢3.5 billion: Allocation for the free secondary education program.
- GH¢564.6 million: Allocation for comprehensive provision of free curricula-based textbooks.
- GH¢1.788 billion: Allocation for the School Feeding Programme.
- GH¢145.5 million: Allocation for the Capitation Grant.
- GH¢203 million: Allocation for the payment of teacher trainee allowances.
- GH¢480 million: Allocation for the payment of nursing trainee allowances.
- GH¢9.93 billion: Allocation for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
- GH¢2.81 billion: Allocation for the Ghana Road Fund.
- GH¢7.51 billion: Allocation for the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF).
- GH¢1.5 billion: Allocation for Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA).
- GH¢51.3 million: Allocation as seed fund for the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank.
- GH¢300 million: Allocation for the National Apprenticeship Programme.
- GH¢100 million: Allocation for the ‘Adwumawura’ Programme.
- GH¢100 million: Allocation for the National Coders Programme