Adnan Adams Mohammed
The nomination of Dr Cassiel Ato Forson as finance minister has come with many congratulations and affirmations of confidence in his capabilities.
Among the lot is a Labour Consultant, Austin Gamey, who has praised Dr Ato Forson’s expertise and his suitability as Finance Minister-designate to tackle Ghana’s economic challenges.
He belief the Minister-designate can address the country’s prevailing economic difficulties describing Dr Forson’s expertise and experience as perfectly suited to the needs of the job.
“You need people with a certain depth of knowledge and ability to add value to what you want to achieve,” he stated. “Ato Forson is a classic example of someone who fits the bill, especially in these challenging times.”
“Ato Forson has proven that he thoroughly understands these areas and knows how to collaborate with stakeholders to find effective solutions,” he said.
The labour consultant also emphasised Dr Forson’s leadership qualities and track record in public service. Having served as Deputy Minister of Finance, ranking member of the Finance Committee in Parliament, and now Majority Leader, Dr Forson’s extensive experience positions him as a capable leader. This background gives him an unmatched understanding of the fiscal and economic landscape,” Mr Gamey remarked.
He encouraged Ghanaians to rally behind Dr Forson and the administration, stressing the importance of teamwork to tackle inflation, the cost of living, and economic recovery.
“All he needs is our backing and prayers to succeed. The challenges ahead are significant, but with his capacity, I am confident he will deliver,” he asserted.
Also, Franklin Cudjoe, the Founder and President of IMANI Africa, has described Dr Ato Forson’s appointment as a “sensible” decision. In his post, Mr Cudjoe contrasted Dr Forson’s nomination with what he considered the failings of the outgoing administration’s finance leadership.
He criticised the previous Finance Minister for pursuing overly ambitious financial projects, such as a proposed $50 billion century bond, which he described as “delusional,” and highlighted controversial policies like the Agyapa deal.
“Ato Forson for Finance Minister. Sensible appointment,” he wrote. “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 was planning to mortgage our gold resources through very bad deals like Agyapa.”
His remarks underscore the weight of expectations for Dr Forson to steer Ghana’s economy responsibly and avoid the pitfalls of past financial management.
Dr Forson’s nomination signals the government’s intention to focus on stabilising the country’s economy and implementing key fiscal reforms to drive growth and development.
Dr Ato Forson is no stranger to the Finance Ministry, having previously served as a Deputy Minister for Finance under President Mahama’s administration. During his tenure, he was instrumental in managing Ghana’s fiscal policies, negotiating key financial agreements, and supervising economic initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s financial health.
A look at the profile of Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson.
He is a lawmaker in the Parliament of Ghana. He is an economist of great repute with deep insight, particularly on the economy of Ghana. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Tax Practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in the public and private sectors.
His professional expertise covers macroeconomics, fiscal policy, tax policy and administration, finance and business management. Dr. Forson is an Oxford-trained tax professional with a Master of Science degree in taxation from the University of Oxford, UK and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Ghana. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from London South Bank University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG). He obtained a Ph.D in Finance and a Master of Science degree in Economics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana.
Dr. Forson has represented the people of Ajumako Enyan Essiam constituency in the Central Region as their Member of Parliament since 2009. In January 2023, Dr. Forson assumed office as the Minority Leader in Parliament. Prior to this, he was the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament for six years. From 2009 to 2013, he was a member of the Finance Committee of Parliament and also served as the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2011.
Dr. Forson served as the Deputy Minister for Finance of the Republic of Ghana from April 2013 to January 2017, overseeing Budget Preparation and Implementation, Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), Treasury and Debt Management, External Resource Mobilisation and Tax Policy and Administration.
As a Deputy Minister for Finance, Dr. Forson also served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Ghana and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), a member of Ghana’s Economic Management Team and Ghana’s Alternate Governor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Dr. Forson was instrumental in negotiating the Ghana-IMF Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Programme in 2015. He also championed the introduction of Ghana’s model Public Financial Management Act 2016 (Act 921).
Dr. Forson is currently the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in the Parliament of Ghana.
