Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson says the government has introduced about 22 laws over the past 18 months to protect its economic reforms and prevent future administrations from reversing key policy gains.
Speaking at a New Economy engagement at the University of Ghana, Dr. Forson said the government was working to give its economic policies a stronger legal foundation to ensure that the progress made in stabilising the economy could be sustained beyond its time in office.
He explained that the legislative measures included new laws, amendments and repeals aimed at making economic reforms part of Ghana’s legal and institutional framework.
“I try to introduce a lot of laws. In the last 18 months, we have introduced about 22 laws,” he said.
His comments followed a question from Prof. Fred Dzanku, Head of the Economics Division at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), who wanted to know how the government intended to institutionalise some of its policies to ensure their continuity.
Dr. Forson said the government was considering stronger parliamentary requirements for changing certain laws, including a proposed two-thirds majority threshold. According to him, the approach would make it more difficult for future administrations to reverse important economic reforms.
“So we are locking in the progress,” he stated.
The Finance Minister also disclosed that the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act was being amended as part of efforts to strengthen the management of public resources and institutionalise key reforms.
He believes that giving economic policies legal backing would make them more sustainable, rather than leaving their survival to the political decisions of successive governments.
Dr. Forson, who cited his experience in Parliament and economic policymaking, argued that policies without statutory protection could easily be changed when there is a change in government.
He said the objective was to protect the economic gains achieved through the sacrifices of Ghanaians and prevent the country from returning to the economic difficulties experienced between 2022 and 2024.
However, the minister did not provide a breakdown of the 22 laws or indicate how many had been passed by Parliament and were already in force. He also did not identify the specific laws that would require a two-thirds parliamentary majority for amendment.
The extent to which the proposed safeguards will work will therefore depend on the final legislative provisions, the institutions responsible for enforcing them and the level of accountability in their implementation.
Dr. Forson’s remarks reflect the government’s intention to make economic stability a lasting national commitment rather than a policy agenda tied to one administration.
