Policy think tank IMANI-Africa has warned that Ghana’s fiscal discipline could be compromised if the Finance Minister continues to shoulder additional executive responsibilities at a time of rising economic pressure.
In an assessment of the early performance of the Mahama administration, IMANI-Africa President Franklin Cudjoe called on President John Dramani Mahama to relieve Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson of his role as acting Defence Minister, arguing that the demands of the economy require his full and undivided attention.
Mr Cudjoe acknowledged that President Mahama has “started off very well,” but cautioned that the government’s planned “Big Push” projects scheduled for rollout in 2026 present significant fiscal and governance risks if not carefully managed. He stressed that the Finance Ministry will play a central role in maintaining discipline as major capital expenditure is expected in the coming year.
“Please free Finance Minister, Ato Forson from the additional duty as Defence Minister so he can focus and continue being fiscally disciplined,” Mr Cudjoe wrote in a Facebook post, emphasising the need for focused leadership at the Finance Ministry.
He warned that overstretching key officials heightens the risk of inefficiencies, procurement challenges, weak oversight and cost overruns, particularly in large-scale infrastructure projects.
To strengthen accountability, Mr Cudjoe proposed reinforcing the Cabinet Office and appointing an Administrator-General or Assessor-General from the civil service to independently monitor and conduct risk analysis on all major government projects.
According to him, proactive oversight is essential to preventing corruption, delays and waste, stressing that Ghana cannot afford another cycle of excess spending followed by post-tenure accountability exercises.
