Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, has expressed his support for the nomination of Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson as the Finance Minister designate.
Cudjoe described the decision as a “sensible appointment,” highlighting Forson’s experience and expertise in economic and financial matters.
He believes that Forson’s leadership in the Finance Ministry could bring about positive changes, especially in addressing Ghana’s economic challenges and fostering fiscal discipline.
Cudjoe’s endorsement underscores Forson’s reputation as a capable and knowledgeable policymaker, well-suited to navigate the complex financial landscape of the country.
“Thankfully, he is not an overhyped investment banker who would have wet dreams of some delusional $50bn century bond his predecessor entertained in spite of the odious debts he had accumulated.
“Worse, he [Ken Ofori Atta] was planning to mortgage our gold resources through very bad deals like Agyapa”.
Franklin Cudjoe
Franklin Cudjoe criticized the Agyapa Royalties deal, describing it as a disastrous initiative.
He commended IMANI Africa and their counterparts at the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) for their pivotal role in opposing the deal.
Cudjoe praised their relentless efforts in raising public awareness and highlighting the deal’s flaws, which ultimately contributed to its rejection.
He acknowledged the collaborative advocacy and thorough analysis provided by both organizations, which were instrumental in safeguarding the nation’s financial interests and ensuring greater transparency and accountability in the management of natural resources. “Whoever advised Agyapa must be lashed 38 times”.
Meanwhile, Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson’s nomination as Finance Minister has received overwhelmingly positive responses from the NDC as a political party and several civil society organizations, with many commending the President for selecting a capable and experienced candidate to lead the country’s financial affairs.
Cudjoe, Ato Forson Discuss Economic Resilience Strategies
Furthermore, Franklin Cudjoe, disclosed that in April 2024, he had the opportunity to engage in an in-depth discussion with Hon. Ato Forson about strategies to prevent further deterioration of Ghana’s struggling economy.
Cudjoe shared that he had invited Forson to join a meeting with a select group of Ghanaian and British consultants.
These consultants were recently commissioned by the British Government to design the Financial and Economic Resilience in Ghana (FERG) programme, a modest £5 million initiative.
According to Cudjoe, The FERG programme aims to complement existing efforts by various development partners to tackle Ghana’s persistent fiscal and macroeconomic challenges.
He emphasized the importance of such collaborative efforts in promoting economic stability and resilience in the country.
“The interaction was eye-opening and worth every second of the two-hour encounter. I was convinced that Hon.Ato Forson had earned the stripes to be a successful financial minister”.
Franklin Cudjoe
Franklin Cudjoe highlighted his role as the deputy team leader of the mission, expressing his commitment to ensuring the prompt release of the £5 million funding for the Financial and Economic Resilience in Ghana (FERG) programme.
He stated that this funding would be instrumental in supporting Hon. Ato Forson’s efforts to enhance the efficiency of ministerial budget preparation, aiming to eliminate wasteful spending.
Additionally, Cudjoe emphasized the importance of bolstering the capacity of Ghana’s debt management office.
This initiative is intended to curb the tendency of finance ministers to accumulate excessive debt, thereby promoting more sustainable fiscal policies and contributing to the long-term stability of the country’s economy.
He extended his best wishes to Hon. Ato Forson in his new role as Finance Minister, expressing confidence in Forson’s ability to steer the nation’s economy towards stability and growth.
Cudjoe acknowledged the significant challenges ahead but conveyed his optimism that Forson’s expertise and leadership would be pivotal in implementing sound financial policies and reforms.
He emphasized the critical nature of the role, wishing Forson success in navigating the complex economic landscape and contributing to the prosperity of Ghana.
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