As Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, prepares to present the 2025 Budget on March 11, his recent engagement strategy has drawn both commendation and criticism.
His outreach efforts—including a visit to Makola Market and a Twitter Space conversation with Ghanaian youth—have sparked a national debate.
While some laud these interactions as a move toward inclusive governance, others, especially members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), dismiss them as mere populism.
Dr. Forson’s defense of his approach was unequivocal. He emphasized that these engagements were neither the beginning nor the end of his consultations ahead of the budget presentation.
According to him, the government had already conducted a national economic dialogue, which produced some consensus. However, he noted that governance must go beyond elite-level discussions to directly involve ordinary citizens.
During his Twitter Space interaction, Dr. Forson reiterated his commitment to a bottom-up policymaking process, expressing his committment to continuous citizen engagement.
“I’m not here to read a budget, but I’m here to hear from you what you think can make a difference in your lives if the government heed your call. But I want to make something very clear. I do not take the people of Ghana for granted. I’m not here because I want to be here. I’m here because I want to hear your voice.”
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance
He sought to dispel concerns that the budget was already finalized, insisting that his ministry was still working on it and soliciting further input.
This assertion challenges the long-standing perception that Ghana’s budgetary process is driven by bureaucratic insiders with little input from the populace.
If Dr. Forson’s approach is genuinely meant to integrate public opinion, it could signal a departure from the typical top-down policymaking that has characterized Ghana’s economic governance.
However, his critics argue that such public engagements are mere political theater, designed to project a false sense of inclusivity while the key fiscal decisions have already been made.
The opposition NPP has been quick to criticize Dr. Forson’s engagement strategy. According to some NPP members, the Finance Minister’s visit to Makola and subsequent online interaction were politically calculated moves to win public sympathy rather than genuine attempts to influence the budget’s final outlook.
The skepticism is not without precedent. Over the years, political actors have often used town hall meetings and market visits as publicity stunts rather than serious forums for policy input.
Dr. Forson, however, refuted this claim outrightly, asserting that some meaningful policy ideas can still be incorporated at this late stage.
“Ignore the propaganda that the budget has already been prepared. As I speak with you, I sit at the Ministry of Finance. We are still working. Yes, we’ve made some significant progress, but we are still soliciting more ideas, and we believe that together, we can make our country better through policies that are generated from the bottom up”.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance
If his consultations lead to budgetary policies that address key economic concerns—such as inflation, youth unemployment, and the high cost of living—then the outreach efforts could indeed be substantive rather than superficial.
The Reality of Ghana’s Economic Situation
Beyond the political wrangling, the most critical question remains: Will the 2025 Budget reflect the economic realities facing Ghanaians?
The country’s economic challenges are well-documented—rising inflation, a depreciating cedi, high public debt, and an ongoing IMF program that imposes fiscal constraints.
For many ordinary citizens, the upcoming budget is not just about policy pronouncements but about how it will impact their daily lives.
Dr. Forson’s emphasis on public engagement could suggest a willingness to craft policies that resonate with the lived experiences of Ghanaians.
However, the extent to which these conversations translate into tangible policy shifts will ultimately determine whether his efforts are seen as meaningful governance or mere political showmanship.
If Dr. Forson’s approach proves to be more than symbolic, it could pave the way for a new era of participatory budgeting in Ghana.
Many advanced democracies have long institutionalized citizen participation in budget formulation, recognizing that economic policies must reflect diverse perspectives to be effective.
However, for Ghana to achieve this, engagement must go beyond a few public visits and social media interactions. A systematic framework for incorporating public input into the budget process must be established.
Town hall meetings, online consultations, and stakeholder engagements should not just be events but part of a structured process where citizens can track how their contributions influence final policy outcomes.
As Dr. Forson prepares to present the 2025 Budget, the true test of his engagement strategy will be its policy outcomes.
If his interactions with traders, youth, and other stakeholders are reflected in a budget that addresses the core economic hardships facing Ghanaians, he will set a precedent for inclusive governance.
However, if the final budget mirrors the usual top-down approach, his efforts will be dismissed as political posturing.
For now, the jury is still out. Whether one views Dr. Forson’s approach as a genuine attempt at participatory governance or a populist maneuver depends largely on what the 2025 Budget delivers.
