Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, has disclosed that the Mahama government has introduced about 22 laws over the past 18 months to make its reforms last and protect the economic stability Ghanaians sacrificed to achieve.
The Finance Minister disclosed that the government aimed to prevent future governments from reversing the progress made and taking the country back to the pain and hardship of the 2022–2024 economic crisis.
Dr Forson was speaking during a New Economy engagement at the University of Ghana and made this known while responding to Prof Fred Dzanku, Head of the Economics Division at the university’s Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), who asked how “some of these brilliant policies and agenda” could be institutionalised.
“I try to introduce a lot of laws. In the last 18 months, we have introduced about 22 laws,” Dr Forson said.
He explained that the process involved introducing legislation, repealing existing laws, and making amendments to protect the reforms against reversal.
“We are trying to put these reforms into law,” he said.
He disclosed that the Government was also pursuing amendments to require a two-thirds majority in Parliament to change some of the laws, which will make it harder for future administrations to undo the reforms.
“So we are locking in the progress,” he added.
“I am in a unique position to understand how the issue of sustainability can be tackled because of my parliamentary experience and policy experience,” he said.
According to Ato Forson, the policies were easier for a government to change when they were not backed by law, underscoring the need to turn reform commitments into legal requirements.
Ato Forson cited ongoing amendments to the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act as part of that effort.
“So the PFM Act is being amended. Some of the things we are doing are being institutionalised, and we are putting it into law to lock in the sustainability,” he said.
In related news, President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that his administration will not relax current fiscal discipline even in the election year of 2028.
According to John Mahama, he would not take his foot off the pedal as it aims to consolidate the economic gains.
Speaking at the opening of the 77th Annual New Year School and Conference of the University of Ghana in Accra yesterday, President Mahama asserted that nearly seven decades after independence, it is time Ghana equitably and sustainably grew into a resilient nation.
John Mahama at the event stated, “I can assure Ghanaians that we’ll not relax the current fiscal discipline and efficient management of the economy even in the election year of 2028”.
“It demands that we move beyond rhetoric to implementation, short-term fixes to long-term solutions, and beyond narrow interest to the national interest. Growth and consolidation must be permanent.
“We cannot build the Ghana we want if the progress made under one regime is reversed under another. Our economic development programmes must be medium to long-term. Our progress as a nation must transcend political seasons, and this is why I decided to make this second mandate, so graciously granted to me by Ghanaians count,” he said.
Also, Mahama once again reiterated his commitment to raising Ghana’s economy and governance to a level no succeeding government can reverse.
According to President Mahama, Ghana must set an example at a time when democratic governance is under pressure in parts of Africa.
President Mahama stated, “I have decided to make this second mandate so graciously granted to me by Ghanaians count. I have pledged to raise our economy and governance to a level that no succeeding government can reverse.”
“In a region where democracy is backsliding, we must demonstrate that democracy works and that our people can have faith in their leaders to uphold their interests and create opportunities for national prosperity,” he stated.
@ghnow_ Media personality Nana Ama McBrown heaps praises on blogger Kobby Kyei for his impressive career and achievements in the media industry at the Content with Purpose event at the French Embassy. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Media personality Nana Ama McBrown advises content creators and online journalists to be genuine in their pursuit of money as she speaks at the Content with Purpose training event at the French Embassy. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
