Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson says he will ensure that every promise made in the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy is implemented to the latter.
Dr. Forson who was speaking in an interview said he should be evaluated by the end of 2025.
“I will implement this budget strongly and I ask you to assess me by the end of the year. We’ll make sure that by the end of the year, the revenues that will come in will go to those that we have made allocations for,” he said.
He noted that the credibility of any budget matters a lot, therefore, “you can’t prepare budget and fail to implement it; I can assure you that I commit to implement this budget to the latter.”
Again, the Minister wants Ghanaians to understand that he has certain and committed to ensuring that the assurances given to citizens are not empty promises.
“I did not just announce numbers, I’ve ran the models, and I know that when the revenue comes in, we are going to transfer them to those who have to get their transfers through allotment,” he stressed.
He, however, advised that “those that we have not made allocation for; they should not make a mistake and ask for something that they do not deserve because they are not going to get it.”
Touching on the government’s commitment to providing relief and assistance to the affected communities during the Akosombo Dam spillage, he the Gh¢242.5 million that have been allocated to victims was vital as the previous government failed to do so.
Meanwhile, the former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta had mentioned His government had disburse about Gh¢200 million to these victims, but, Dr Ato Forson said that statement was untrue.
“Ask yourself whether they made payments to them, the answer is no. from the brief that I have had and so the MPs around the enclave came to me and them the minister responsible for works and housing also make a passionate case so we felt the need to make the allocation, cabinet endorsed that allocation so we’ve made the allocation to deal with the problem,” he stated.
The Akosombo dam spillage disaster, which occurred in October 2023, was the result of a planned release of water from the Akosombo and Kpong dams due to heavy rainfall, aimed at preventing the dam from overflowing.
Sadly, the spillage caused severe flooding, displacing thousands in North Tongu, South Tongu, Ada East, and Shai Osudoku.
Schools, health facilities, roads, and farmlands were submerged, with many businesses suffering heavy losses.
Dr Ato Forson, in his budget said part of the allocation would go towards repairing damaged roads, schools, and hospitals while farmers and traders whose livelihoods were affected will also receive financial assistance to help them rebuild.