Founder and President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has praised the appointment of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as Finance Minister-designate, describing it as a “sensible” decision.
In a Facebook post on Friday, January 10, Mr. Cudjoe commended President John Dramani Mahama’s selection, which was part of the first ministerial list announced by the President.
He criticized the former Finance Minister for pursuing overly ambitious financial initiatives, including a proposed $50 billion century bond, which he labeled as “delusional.”
He also highlighted contentious policies, such as the Agyapa royalties deal.
“Ato Forson for Finance Minister. Sensible appointment. 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” he noted.
Mr Cudjoe applauded advocacy groups like IMANI and the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) for successfully opposing the Agyapa deal.
Based on a personal interaction with the finance minister in April last year, he has high expectations for Dr. Forson to guide Ghana’s economy with responsibility and steer clear of the mistakes made in previous financial management.
He endorsed the release of £5m as soon as possible to help him work accordingly.
“As deputy team leader of the mission, I will endorse the release of the £5m as soon as possible to help Ato Forson strengthen ministerial budget preparation to cut out waste and capacitate Ghana’s debt management office to slow down debt-happy finance ministers among many others. Good luck Ato” he said.
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