Patrick Yaw Boamah, the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, has said Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson is killing the ministries under the Mahama government.
According to Patrick Yaw Boamah, ministers under the John Mahama government are unhappy with Ato Forson over the lack of funds being released to their ministries.
The Okaikwei Central during the Parliamentary debate on the 2025 sector budget estimate noted that the Ministry of Transport had received 43 million out of a 165 million allocation, which was just 26 per cent.
He further quizzed the Transport Minister, Joseph Nikpe Bukari, whether he was happy with the 26 per cent release in the 2025 budget and quizzed how the Transport Ministry survived.
Patrick Yaw Boamah further fired the NDC minister, accusing them of being unhappy with the poor release of funds to their ministries, but still insists the Finance Minister Ato is forcing.
Speaking on the floor of parliament, Patrick Yaw Boamah stated, “Mr Speaker, the committee noted that by September 2025, the Ministry of Transport had received 43 million out of a 165 million allocation. Representing a release rate of 26 per cent, and you sit here and say Ato is ‘forcing’? Forcing what? 26 per cent release, and you sit here and say he brought good news, is this the good news that has come?”
“Nikpe, Hon Nikpe, are you happy with a 26 per cent release? How were you able to survive the whole of 2025 on 26 per cent? Very sad and unfortunate, and you think Ato is forcing, how? You are not happy… He is collapsing your ministry. We know. The minister says you are not happy with the releases. You are not,” he quizzed.
He further added, Gizella Tetteh is not happy, Ampem is not happy himself, Trade Minister, you are not happy. You just walked in while we’ve been debating your report all day. Hon Acheampong, are you happy with the 26 per cent?”
Meanwhile, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has boldly stated that President John Dramani Mahama appointed him to get the job done and not to win popularity contests in ministries, departments, or agencies.
According to Ato Forson, his priority is to serve the masses and not to seek popularity.
He made these remarks while explaining his decision to cut non-essential spending like foreign travel, workshops, and luxury procurements.
Ato Forson further asserted that as finance minister, if one is popular among his colleagues, then there is something wrong.
Speaking during an interview on Joy NEWS after the 2026 budget reading, Dr Ato Forson stated, “If, as a finance minister, you are too popular, then there’s something wrong with it. Too popular within the group that you are talking about, then you are failing”.
“I want to be popular with the people of Ghana. Whatever I have to do to serve their needs and be able to save, to pay for school feeding, to pay for free SHS, to be able to put nurses in hospitals, to build hospitals, to give maternal care. Instead of somebody travelling, I will cut that expenditure and give it to someone who needs dialysis,” he indicated.
Ato Forson further revealed that President John Mahama read the entire 2026 Budget cover to cover, highlighting that the budget has the full backing of the president.
“The President read this budget cover to cover… This is his document, not my document. I read on his behalf… to Parliament and the people of Ghana,” he added.
Watch the video below:
“Transport Minister, are you happy? You sit down and say Ato is Forson. He is killing your ministries.” – MP Patrick Boamah fires on the floor during debate on sector estimates.
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) December 2, 2025
Watch live here: https://t.co/NlRgY66Jii#CitiNewsroom #ParliamentGH #2026Budget pic.twitter.com/mE2IeHBkOg