Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has revealed that the government has introduced approximately 22 laws over the past 18 months as part of a deliberate strategy to institutionalise its economic reforms and make them difficult for future administrations to reverse.
Speaking at a “New Economy” engagement at the University of Ghana on Friday, October 30, 2026, Dr. Forson said the legislative push was designed to give key policy decisions a lasting legal foundation, arguing that reforms not backed by law could easily be undone by successive governments.
The question was posed by Professor Fred Dzanku, Head of the Economics Division at the university’s Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), who asked how “some of these brilliant policies and agenda” could be institutionalised to survive changes in political leadership.
“In the last 18 months, we have introduced about 22 laws,” Dr. Forson said. “We are trying to put these things in law, repealing some and making amendments that require a two-thirds majority, so that we are locking in the progress.”
Legal Shield Against Policy Reversal
The Finance Minister explained that the approach involves introducing new legislation, repealing existing laws, and amending others to provide stronger legal backing for the government’s economic management measures. He noted that some of the proposed amendments would require a two-thirds majority in Parliament before they could be changed, creating an additional layer of protection against future reversals.
“Most times, it is very easy for a government of the day to change policy if you don’t have it in law,” Dr. Forson said, adding that his experience in Parliament and government had shaped his understanding of how to ensure policy continuity.
He pointed to ongoing amendments to the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act as a key example of the government’s efforts to embed reforms in the legal framework. “The PFM Act is being amended. Some of the things we are doing are being institutionalised, and we are putting it into law to lock in the sustainability,” he said.
Background: A Broader Push for Fiscal Discipline
The legislative drive comes amid a wider government effort to restore economic stability following the crisis period of 2022–2024. Dr. Forson has previously described the reforms as aimed at protecting the “economic stability Ghanaians have sacrificed to achieve” and preventing a return to the hardship of those years.
The PFM Act amendments are part of this broader fiscal discipline agenda. In July 2026, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Ampem Nyarko disclosed that the government had successfully amended the PFM Act to mandate that all state entities secure authorisation from the Finance Minister before committing to any expenditure. The amendments also introduced a requirement to maintain a 1.5% primary surplus on a commitment basis, with the Finance Minister subject to censure for breaches.
Separately, a Private Member’s Bill sponsored by Opposition MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah—nicknamed the “No Plan, No Cash” Bill—has been progressing through Parliament, seeking to bar funding for projects not captured in the National Development Planning Commission’s approved plans. While that bill originates from the Minority, it reflects a broader cross-party interest in tightening the legal architecture around public spending.
Political Context
The Mahama administration, which took office in early 2025, has staked significant political capital on its economic recovery agenda. President Mahama declared in his 2026 State of the Nation Address that “Ghana is back and ready for business,” citing improved fiscal indicators including a 2025 deficit of 1.1% on a cash basis, down from 7.9% in 2024.
Dr. Forson’s remarks on Friday suggest the government views legal entrenchment as essential to ensuring those gains outlast its tenure. “I am in a unique position to understand how the issue of sustainability can be tackled because of my parliamentary experience and policy experience,” he said.
