Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has mounted a strong defence of government spending under the Mahama-led administration, rejecting claims that the current government has failed to invest in the needs of Ghanaians.
Speaking after the presentation of the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament, Dr. Forson described criticisms of spending inactivity as misleading and insisted that the government is not only spending but doing so prudently, in areas that matter most to the people.
“So I showed some of the things I’ve spent on. So, contrary to the impression that has been created, it is not true that the government is not spending. We are spending at the right places and spending prudently. That is what we are doing.”
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
Citing a number of major financial commitments across critical sectors, Dr. Forson pushed back against what he called a “false narrative” being peddled by political opponents, particularly the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He pointed to the consistent payment of obligations in education, healthcare, energy, pensions, and social interventions as evidence of the government’s effective fiscal strategy.
“Have you heard any noise from Free SHS? Have you? Have you heard noise coming from National Health Insurance service providers? Have you heard teachers complain about capitation grants? Have you heard school feeding complaining? No. Something is happening. There’s a silent revolution going on. We are spending right.”
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
Honouring Debt Obligations
The Finance Minister disclosed that a significant portion of the government’s spending had been channelled into honouring both local and international obligations. He mentioned that $700 million had been used to meet Eurobond commitments, while domestic bondholders were paid an amount of GHS10 billion.
Furthermore, the government has already disbursed GHS2.9 billion toward the District Assemblies Common Fund for the first and second quarters of the year.
On pensions, Dr. Forson revealed that the government had paid GHS2.7 billion to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to meet pension obligations, an indication that workers’ future earnings are being secured.
In the energy sector, he reported that GHS9.1 billion had been spent to ensure stable power supply, while the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GetFund) had received GHS4.6 billion, of which GHS1 billion was earmarked for the Free SHS programme.
Touching on healthcare, the Minister noted that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) had also been significantly resourced. “As of today, we’ve paid GHS4.6 billion to the National Health Insurance. We have paid GHS1.4 billion for NHIS claims,” he said.
In addition, he confirmed that the government had released GHS252 million to procure vaccines and essential medicines, prompting commendation from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for what it described as a long-awaited intervention.
Improving Social Welfare
Beyond health and education, Dr. Forson outlined several other areas of spending aimed at improving social welfare. The government has paid GHS462.6 million in nursing trainee allowances and GHS25 million in allowances for assembly members.
A further GHS21 million has been used to kick-start the National Apprenticeship Programme, a youth-focused initiative expected to expand job opportunities and technical skills training. To those who continue to question the government’s fiscal prudence, Dr. Forson had a pointed response.
“The non-interest expenditure alone is GHS89 billion. Interest expenditure over GHS25 billion. So the government of Ghana is spending. We are very current, and these numbers I’m telling you are up to date. Unlike us, the NPP is used to spending what they don’t have.”
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
Demonstration of Superior Competence
Lending support to the Finance Minister’s argument, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, also praised the government’s spending choices and fiscal direction, hailing it as a clear demonstration of superior competence and care for the people.
“We’ve demonstrated that we have superior competence, superior capabilities. We care deeply about the people. When you care about the people and you love the country, you will prioritize and you will invest in real programs and projects that improve the lot of the people.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Drawing a sharp contrast with the previous administration, the Foreign Affairs Minister criticised the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led government for what he described as reckless financial mismanagement.
According to Hon. Ablakwa, the former government ran the economy “like a Ponzi scheme,” engaging in “crate, loot, and share” practices that yielded no meaningful benefits for ordinary Ghanaians.
He stressed that the current administration, led by President John Dramani Mahama, is guided by lessons from the past and is committed to using its parliamentary majority to deliver real transformation.
“I am absolutely proud of our Finance Minister, and I am absolutely impressed with the vision, the guidance, and the direction of President John Dramani Mahama,” he said. The North Tongu MP added that the era of pensioners picketing for their own money, high youth unemployment, and inaccessible life savings was being turned around
“Today, we tell a new story. Today, we see hope. Today, we experience a different Ghana. A Ghana where the managers of the economy are putting the people first and demonstrating that when you care for the people… even through a crisis, you can ensure that the people’s lives and their livelihoods are improved.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
With the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review now laid before Parliament, the Mahama administration is clearly positioning itself as a government of fiscal discipline, social investment, and people-centred economic management.
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