2026 MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW: Ato Forson Pledges Responsible Management of Ghana’s Public Finances

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has pledged to uphold transparency, accountability and prudent management of Ghana’s public finances, assuring citizens that state resources are being handled in the national interest.

Addressing Parliament during the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review on Thursday, July 23, Dr Forson said the performance of a Finance Minister should be judged not by how much government spends, but by how effectively public resources are protected.

“The true measure of a Finance Minister is not how much he spends, but how faithfully he protects the resources entrusted to him,” he said.

Dr Forson emphasised that public funds belong to the Ghanaian people and must be managed with integrity and responsibility.

“The money we manage does not belong to those entrusted to manage it. It belongs to the people of Ghana. It belongs to you and belongs to all of us,” he told Parliament.

He said every cedi raised through taxation, borrowed by the state or spent by government carries an obligation to ensure that it is used wisely and in the public interest.

“Every cedi collected in taxes, every cedi borrowed and every cedi spent carries with it a sacred obligation to use it wisely, honestly, and always in the national interest,” Dr Forson said.

The Finance Minister also promised to provide Ghanaians with an honest assessment of the country’s economic position, regardless of whether developments are positive or challenging.

“I pledge to level with you always. I will tell you the truth about the state of the public finances, whether the news is welcoming or difficult. We will never conceal our challenges or exaggerate our successes,” he said.

Dr Forson argued that economic stability requires continuous discipline and responsible stewardship, rather than being treated as a one-off achievement.

“Economic stability is not an event. It is a duty, renewed every day through prudent stewardship, fiscal discipline and unwavering accountability,” he said.

He said the government would remain focused on preserving Ghana’s recent economic gains while ensuring that public resources are translated into tangible benefits for citizens.

Seeking to reassure the public about the country’s financial direction, Dr Forson said: “Your money is safe under the leadership of President Mahama. Your economy is in safe hands, and as long as I have the honour to serve as Minister for Finance, it will remain so.”

The Finance Minister said he would continue to prioritise transparency, fiscal discipline and responsible financial management throughout his tenure.