Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, has defended the Mahama government’s expenditure record, replying to critics demanding huge spending.
According to Ato Forson, he is spending, but people do not appreciate it, questioning whether they want him to crash the country again?
He argued that a substantial part of available public funds is going towards settling inherited debts and restoring confidence in the economy rather than financing new spending.
Ato Forson highlighted that the Mahama government could not ignore its financial obligations and risk plunging the country into another economic crisis simply to satisfy demands for increased expenditure.
According to Ato Forson, the government had so far paid GH¢41 billion to holders of bonds under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
He described the payments as part of the difficult financial responsibilities inherited from the Akufo-Addo administration.
The Finance Minister, however, rejected criticism that he was not spending enough, arguing that the government was using available resources to meet pressing needs.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Thursday, November 12, after presenting the 2027 Budget to Parliament, Ato Forson stated, “I’m spending, but you see, people don’t appreciate it”.
“You see, I have this house that I have inherited from President Akufo-Addo’s government, and a large economic management team. These are debts that we have inherited. Do you want me to crash the country again? Do you? I can’t”.
Ato Forson disclosed that his immediate priority was to settle debts to restore confidence in the market and move the country away from the economic crisis.
“These are not normal times. I need to take the country out of crisis. I need to restore market confidence. I need to pay the debt that has fallen due,” he said.
“I have my obligations. One, pay your debt; enough of what will be left, you will use it for others,” he said.
He further stressed that the government could not spend money it did not have, adding that responsible financial management required it to settle outstanding commitments before taking on additional expenditure.
Meanwhile, Professor Godfred Bokpin has urged the John Mahama government to spend to stimulate growth to put money in the pockets of Ghanaians.
He warned that the government’s cuts to expenditure are delaying the benefits of economic stability for Ghanaians.
He acknowledged improvements in key economic indicators but added that Ghana’s infrastructure deficit required investment to remove barriers to growth.
Also, 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.
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