Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson says the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government left Ghana in a worse economic situation than was anticipated by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to him, although the John Mahama administration knew the country’s economy was in shambles, but they never expected it to be this terrible.
Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu made this revelation during the cabinet meeting.
According to Kwakye Ofosu, the Finance Minister said this during President John Mahama’s first cabinet meeting on Thursday, February 20.
Dr Ato Forson is reported to have said that “the economic situation is dire, numbers are worse than we had known in the period of elections.”
Prior to the cabinet meeting, President Mahama hinted that he had instructed the Finance Minister to cut expenditure as much as he likes.
He says this demonstrates the government’s commitment to rebuilding the economy.
President Mahama said this after revealing that the economy was criminally handled by the previous NPP administration.
President John Dramani Mahama has assembled his cabinet in accordance with Article 76 (1) of the 1992 constitution.
19 ministers form part of his Cabinet.
The list includes Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak, Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
This is pursuant to Article 76 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, “There shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the President, the Vice-President and not less than ten and not more than nineteen Ministers of State.
Article 76 (2) specified the role of Cabinet, “The Cabinet shall assist the President in the determination of general policy of the Government.”
President Mahama’s Cabinet held its maiden meeting on Thursday, February 20.
The constitution mandates the President to constitute a Cabinet of not less than 10 and not more than 19 ministers and shall have a secretary appointed by the President.
The cabinet consists of the President, the Vice President, aside from the Ministers of state; and it shall assist the President in the determination of the general policies of the government.
The cabinet shall be summoned by the President who shall preside over all meetings; and in the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside.
The cabinet is solely responsible for the regulation of the procedure at its meetings.
Despite the number that the constitution mandates, the President is free to invite other ministers to the meeting who may provide some answers or vital information but do not have the power to vote on issues.
