President John Dramani Mahama has nominated Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam Constituency, as Minister for Finance.
The nomination, made in accordance with Article 78 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, reflects the President’s confidence in Dr. Forson’s extensive expertise and proven track record in public finance, macroeconomics, and fiscal management.
Dr. Forson is expected to lead the country’s financial portfolio, bringing his decades of experience to bear in steering the government’s economic policies and driving fiscal reforms.
About Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson
Hon. Dr. Forson is an accomplished economist, Chartered Accountant, and Tax Practitioner with over 20 years of professional experience in both public and private sectors. His areas of expertise include macroeconomics, fiscal policy, tax administration, finance, and business management.
A distinguished scholar, Dr. Forson holds a Ph.D. in Finance and a Master of Science degree in Economics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He also earned a Master of Science degree in Taxation from the University of Oxford, UK, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from London South Bank University. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Ghana, and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG).
Dr. Forson has been a dedicated legislator since 2009, representing the Ajumako Enyan Essiam Constituency in Parliament. In January 2023, he was appointed Minority Leader, a role he assumed after serving six years as Ranking Member of the Finance Committee. From 2009 to 2011, he also served as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Leadership in Government
Dr. Forson’s extensive experience in governance includes serving as Deputy Minister for Finance from 2013 to 2017. In this role, he oversaw key areas such as budget preparation and implementation, debt management, external resource mobilization, and tax policy. He played a pivotal role in negotiating Ghana’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2015 and spearheaded the development of Ghana’s Public Financial Management Act (Act 921) in 2016.
During his tenure, Dr. Forson also served on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Ghana and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and acted as Ghana’s Alternate Governor to the IMF.
Looking Ahead
The President’s nomination has been forwarded to Parliament for approval. Should he assume the role, Dr. Forson is expected to lead efforts to stabilize Ghana’s economy, strengthen fiscal discipline, and introduce innovative policies to boost growth and development.
In a statement, the President’s spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, expressed confidence in the nominee’s abilities. “Dr. Forson’s distinguished career and deep understanding of the economy make him the ideal candidate to lead Ghana’s financial sector at this critical time,” he said.
Parliament is set to vet the nominee in the coming days.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
