Hassan Ayariga, the founder and Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), has criticised the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, over his handling of government funds.
According to Hassan Ayariga, Ato Forson is holding on to funds approved by Parliament, leaving several ministries struggling to carry out their activities.
He described Ato Forson as sitting on so much money and acting like a demigod while ministries are struggling.
Speaking in an interview on Metro TV, Hassan Ayariga fumed, saying, “We have a Finance Minister today who is sitting on so much money, and all the ministries are struggling. With the intention that we don’t want to give money to the ministries because we have to do what is called commitment authorisation before you are given money to do a project.
“Some ministers have projects in front of them that have gone through Parliament, received ratification and had their budgets approved by Parliament. The Minister for Finance sits in his office and becomes a demigod and is not releasing resources to any of them,” he said.
He further alleged that despite the delays in releasing funds to the various ministries, the Finance Minister has been holding meetings in other regions every week.
Hassan Ayariga questioned the need for the minister to travel regularly for press conferences and meetings while funds needed by the ministries remained unavailable.
He alleged, “I saw him say something like that, which actually made me so upset, that he doesn’t want to release money for them to go and be having conferences and travel anyhow and do what? What do you mean? Every week, you go to Volta Serene Hotel.
“Drive from Accra every week. The hotel is owned by Sky, something like that. You are driving every day, every week, to go and have press conferences and to go and have meetings. That is not an expenditure,” he added.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) African Department Director, Zeine Zeidane, praised the country’s progress under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF).
The IMF also cited Ghana’s economic reform programme as an example for other countries to follow.
During a meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, Zeine Zeidane told Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson. “We tell others to follow your steps”.
He further commended Ghana’s performance under the programme, describing it as a success and acknowledging the government’s efforts to strengthen economic management.
“I want to first commend you on how you are performing. The ECF was a great success,” he said.
He further expressed a positive assessment of Ghana’s current economic position, declaring that “Ghana is in a very good place.”
Also, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Ghana’s Finance Minister, has expressed confidence that Ghana’s economy will outperform the International Monetary Fund’s revised growth forecast of 5.7% for 2026.
Ato Forson, reacting to the IMF’s upward revision from its April projection of 4.6%, stressed that the government remained committed to fiscal discipline and reforms supporting the country’s economic turnaround.
Ato Forson stated, “The IMF has upgraded Ghana’s 2026 growth forecast from 4.6% to 5.7%. We are confident we will exceed that projection”.
The IMF’s revision represents an increase of 1.1 percentage points in the Fund’s growth forecast.
Dr Forson stated, “In Bangkok, I met with the IMF’s African Department Director, Zeine Zeidane, and reaffirmed our commitment to the fiscal credibility, discipline and bold reforms powering Ghana’s economic turnaround,” he said.
Watch the video below:
“We have a Finance Minister who is sitting on money and acting like a demigod.” — Dr. Hassan Ayariga @Dr_Ayariga1 Dr. Hassan Ayariga criticises the Finance Minister, raising questions about the management and release of public funds. #metrotv #ghanapolitics #hassanayariga #financeminister #ghananews
— Metro TV Ghana (@metrotvgh) October 16, 2026
@ghnow_ This is how Chef Abys arrived The Big Street Food earlier today at Gud Park #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – Abenah
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