Minority in Parliament Slams Ato Forson’s Vetting Performance as Evasive and Inconsistent

15 January, 2025

The Minority in Parliament has expressed strong reservations about Cassiel Ato Baah Forson’s performance during his vetting as Finance Minister-designate. According to the Minority, Forson appeared evasive, inconsistent and lacked clarity of thought throughout the vetting process.

The Minority had high expectations for Forson, given his previous experience as Deputy Minister of Finance and ranking member of the Finance Committee. However, his responses, according to them, were deemed disappointing, particularly on key issues such as the government’s pledge to cover first-year tuition fees for tertiary students.

Dr. Forson’s inability to confirm whether this promise would be honored was seen as a betrayal to parents and young Ghanaian students. Dr. Gideon Boako, Member of Parliament for Tano North, criticized Forson’s dismissive attitude towards the Free SHS programme and its potential extension to private schools.

The Minority also raised concerns about Forson’s commitment to scrapping certain taxes, including the betting tax, E-levy, COVID levy, and emissions tax. While they acknowledged his intent, they were skeptical of his vague plans to offset the resulting revenue shortfalls.

Furthermore, questions about Forson’s credibility surfaced when he provided incorrect data in response to a query about misleading statistics he presented in 2019. The Minority remains unconvinced by Forson’s performance and calls for greater transparency and accountability from the Finance Minister-designate.

Key Concerns Raised by the Minority:

• Evasive and Inconsistent Responses: Forson’s performance during the vetting process was deemed evasive and inconsistent.
• Lack of Clarity on Key Issues: Forson failed to provide clear answers on critical national issues, including the government’s pledge to cover first-year tuition fees for tertiary students.
• Credibility Concerns: Forson’s provision of incorrect data and reliance on IMF data, which differed from the figures he used, raised concerns about his credibility.