Parliament has given its approval for the government to spend GH₵357 billion in the 2026 fiscal year, following the passage of the Appropriation Number Two Bill, 2025.

The approval enables the government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund and other public accounts to execute its expenditure plans, starting January 1, 2026.

A significant portion of the budget, GH₵90.7 billion, is dedicated to employee compensation. Of this amount, GHS 81 billion is allocated for public sector wages and salaries.

A further GH₵29.8 billion has been earmarked to settle outstanding government arrears.

• Read also: Gov’t introduces sliding-scale mining royalties to capture price gains

The bill's passage ensures the continuity of government operations and services as outlined in the 2026 budget statement.

Meanwhile, the government has laid before Parliament the Minerals and Mining Royalty Regulations, 2025, a new Legislative Instrument (L.I.) designed to introduce variable royalty bands for gold, lithium, and other mineral resources.

The proposed regulations establish a sliding-scale royalty framework, allowing royalty rates to adjust automatically in response to fluctuations in global commodity prices.

According to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the approach is intended to ensure the state derives maximum benefit during periods of high commodity prices while offering relief to investors when prices fall.