Former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Abena Osei Asare, has pushed back against government claims that the economy is on a recovery path, arguing that ordinary Ghanaians continue to struggle under the weight of rising living costs.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Monday, July 28, 2025, during the debate on the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review, Osei Asare said the Finance Minister’s optimism does not reflect the economic reality faced by citizens.

She criticised the government’s emphasis on macroeconomic stability, saying that it is disconnected from the lived experiences of many Ghanaians who are burdened by persistent increases in the prices of basic goods and services.

“Mr. Speaker, ask for the prices of plain and not aromatic rice. Ask about the prices of cassava and not all the sophisticated things the Minister came here to announce,” she said. “You ask for the prices in the market, and it tells you that, clearly, they are not feeling it on the ground.”

Osei Asare also questioned the consistency of government policy, highlighting contradictions in the Finance Minister’s proposals.

“The Minister also mentioned that he is trying very hard to see how he can reduce the items in the inflation basket, so they are going to work on food prices. On one hand, he said, ‘I am trying very hard, I am going to introduce policies that will increase food production’. In another hand, he is bringing a measure that will increase transport fares by more than 30 to 40 percent,” she added.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson had earlier stated that prices of goods and services had declined significantly due to prudent fiscal measures and disciplined economic management over the past six months.

But Osei Asare challenged that assertion, insisting that the economic hardship remains severe for many households. She urged the government to adopt practical, people-focused interventions that would translate macroeconomic gains into real improvements in the daily lives of Ghanaians.