Audio By Carbonatix
The Member of Parliament for Tano North, Dr Gideon Boako, has rejected claims made by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson that Ghana's recent economic gains are solely the result of superior economic management.
The legislator believes that the recovery has largely been driven by the IMF-supported programme and reforms initiated by the previous administration.
According to him, the Finance Minister's attribution of the gains to the current government's policies amounts to "attribution bias" and fails to acknowledge the foundation that was laid before the change in government.
"We have come from somewhere," Dr Boako said, stressing that the minister must recognise the processes and policy decisions that preceded the current administration.
Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, July 25, he argued that while the government deserves credit for maintaining some of the policies it inherited, it cannot claim exclusive responsibility for the country's improving macroeconomic indicators.
"The decision not to change what you inherited is itself a decision. If it produces good results, it should be commended. But whatever has brought us here is multi-causal, not mono-causal," he stated.
Dr Boako cited the National Development Planning Commission's assessment of Ghana's IMF-supported programme, which attributed improvements to fiscal consolidation, expenditure rationalisation, monetary policy tightening, debt restructuring, reforms to restore confidence in the foreign exchange market and measures to strengthen reserve accumulation.
He said the report clearly demonstrates that the country's economic gains are the result of multiple policy interventions rather than the actions of the current administration alone.
The MP also questioned the durability of the economic recovery, arguing that weak domestic revenue mobilisation remains a major concern.
He noted that although the government had targeted an 18 per cent revenue-to-GDP ratio, it achieved only about 15.5 to 15.7 per cent in 2025, figures he said remain below the level inherited by the current administration.
Dr Boako further claimed that revenue shortfalls persisted into 2026, affecting major tax handles, including PAYE, corporate income tax, customs duties and the Growth and Sustainability Levy.
He also accused the Finance Minister of understating the 2026 revenue figures during the Mid-Year Budget Review, arguing that the budget appendices reveal a larger revenue challenge.
According to him, falling revenues have forced government spending below target, raising concerns about the state's ability to finance critical infrastructure and essential public services.
"We need to ask ourselves whether we want to achieve impressive economic indicators at the expense of delivering roads, power, water, irrigation, industrial parks and other essential services to the people," he said.
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