Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson presented the 2025 budget, calling it one of Ghana’s most credible. He criticized the NPP’s previous economic management, attributing unsustainable growth to illegal mining. He also highlighted a significant allocation for the energy sector and expected accountability from the opposition for the nation’s hardships.
On March 11, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson presented the government’s 2025 budget, asserting it as one of the most credible financial blueprints in Ghana’s history. In an exclusive interview with TV3 on March 14, he addressed concerns regarding the budget and criticized the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for their previous economic management. Dr. Forson stated, “This is my first budget. Let’s see how the year ends and judge me.”
He further added, “You’ll know that the 2025 budget will be one of the most credible budgets in the history of the Republic of Ghana because we promised and delivered.” Furthermore, he highlighted his disapproval of the NPP’s projected economic growth, attributing it to illegal small-scale mining, or galamsey, which is not sustainable. He remarked, “The growth NPP projected last year came from galamsey. If you’re growing on the back of illegal mining and you clap, that sort of growth isn’t sustainable.”
Dr. Forson expressed disappointment with the legacy of the Akufo-Addo administration, suggesting that the opposition should acknowledge the struggles faced by Ghanaians. He stated, “Maybe they [Akufo-Addo administration] don’t appreciate what they have caused the people of Ghana. I was rather expecting them to apologise and be remorseful for what they’ve done to the Republic of Ghana.”
Additionally, he accused the NPP of undermining Ghana’s financial reputation by becoming the first government to default on domestic bonds. He claimed, “NPP has a record of defaults and setting bad records. In the history of Ghana, no government has defaulted in the payment of domestic bonds before — except NPP.”
Regarding budget allocations, Dr. Forson announced that GHC28 billion is designated for the energy sector to address inherited debts. He emphasized, “We allocated GHC28bn to the energy sector because of what we inherited. The energy sector is churning out a debt of $2.2bn every year.” His comments foreshadow a potentially intense debate in Parliament as lawmakers prepare to review the 2025 budget in the coming weeks.
In conclusion, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson passionately defended the 2025 budget, asserting its credibility amidst challenges and scrutiny of previous administrations. He emphasized the importance of addressing unsustainable growth patterns and pledged significant investment in the energy sector to rectify inherited issues. The forthcoming discussions in Parliament are anticipated to be contentious as legislators engage with these critical topics.
Original Source: 3news.com
