Policy think tank IMANI-Africa has urged President John Dramani Mahama to separate Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson from his concurrent role as Acting Defence Minister.

The group cautioned that combining these portfolios could weaken fiscal oversight during a pivotal period for Ghana’s economy.

IMANI-Africa President Franklin Cudjoe issued the appeal in a social media post evaluating the initial phase of the Mahama administration.

His assessment also outlined priorities ahead of the rollout of major government initiatives in 2026.

Cudjoe noted that while President Mahama has made a positive start, the scale and intricacy of upcoming "Big Push" projects demand the Finance Minister’s undivided focus to ensure sound public financial management.

“Please free Finance Minister, Ato Forson from the additional duty as Defence Minister so he can focus and continue being fiscally disciplined,” Cudjoe stated.

He emphasized that Dr. Forson should be permitted to concentrate entirely on economic stewardship, maintaining fiscal discipline, and supervising budget execution, particularly with significant capital expenditure expected in the near term.

Cudjoe warned that overburdening senior officials elevates risks of inefficiency, procurement issues, and weak oversight—especially concerning large-scale infrastructure programs.

In addition, he proposed strengthening the Cabinet Office and appointing a senior civil servant as an Administrator-General or Assessor-General. This independent office would monitor and conduct risk analysis on all major government projects.

Proactive oversight, Mr Cudjoe stressed, would help prevent corruption, cost overruns, and delays, adding that Ghana cannot afford another cycle of wasteful spending followed by post-tenure accountability investigations.