Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, has said the New Patriotic Party(NPP) government under Akufo-Addo caused a lot of pain.
According to Ato Forson, the NPP should rather be apologising to Ghanaians rather than demanding credit for the Ghanaian economy.
Ato Forson emphasised that he cannot apportion any form of credit to the NPP in regards to the performance of the Ghanaian economy.
Ato Forson is quoted by Radio Gold as saying, “I cannot apportion any form of credit to the NPP; they were reckless and caused a lot of pain.
They should be apologising. What did they do and leave behind that we should give them credit for?”
The Finance Minister, during the 2025 Mid-year budget review, blamed the former Akufo-Addo administration for causing economic hardship with the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
He stated, “Mismanagement of our public finances by the previous administration led to devastating haircuts through the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), which denied pensioners and the middle class their lifetime savings, livelihoods and dignity,” he told the House.
In addittion, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson fired shots at the former Akufo-Addo government for living a champagne lifestyle on an ‘akpeteshie’ budget.
Ato Forson noted that the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government did not have revenue, but they were just spending.
He noted that the NPP are worried because the NDC is being prudent in its spending.
Speaking in an interview on JOYNEWS after the budget presentation, Ato Forson stated, “The NPP used to spend what they didn’t have. They didn’t have revenue, but they were just spending. So they expect us to spend.
They were living large. I mean, they were living a champagne lifestyle on akpeteshie budget”.
He added, “If you live such a lifestyle and someone comes in and becomes very prudent, you will be worried. That is why they are complaining — they want us to spend as if there’s no tomorrow.
“We don’t do that. That is not our training. You spend within your means; what we have is what we’re spending, and we’re spending rightly,” he stressed.
Ato Forson further, during the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament, refuted claims that the Mahama administration was not spending.
Ato Forson emphasised that the Mahama administration is indeed spending, but they are spending at the right places.
According to Ato Forson, between January to June 2025, they have disbursed a total of GH¢114.5 billion in cash from the Consolidated Fund.
He revealed that the non-interest expenditures alone amount to GH¢84.2 billion.
Ato Forson added that payments have been made across various important areas since the beginning of 2025.
Speaking during the presentation of the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on Thursday, July 24, 2025, Dr Ato Forson stated, “Rt. Hon. Speaker, contrary to the perception that we are not spending, we are indeed spending—and spending at the right places. We are making the right investments”.
“We are spending wisely, targeting the sectors that matter most to our people and our future”, he boldly emphasised.
See the post below:
— With All Due Respect (@cdzas) July 29, 2025
