Dr. Atuahene Commends Finance Minister for Transparency on Debt Challenges in 2025 Budget
Banking Consultant Dr. Richmond Atuahene has lauded the Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, for his transparency in presenting Ghana’s debt situation in the 2025 budget.
Speaking at the launch of the Deloitte 2025 Budget Analysis Report, Dr. Atuahene highlighted the significance of the Finance Minister’s candid disclosure of the country’s debt burden, a departure from previous budget presentations that largely focused on GDP growth without addressing fiscal liabilities.
“For the first time in nearly 17 years, we have a minister who openly acknowledged the debt situation and provided actual figures, including the insolvency of the Central Bank,” Dr. Atuahene stated. “I was particularly fascinated by the data-driven approach, as it offers a comprehensive position of the budget and reflects efforts to consolidate and drive economic recovery.”
He further noted that the budget underscores the challenge of debt overhang while attempting to restore macroeconomic stability following years of fiscal distress.
Meanwhile, the Deloitte 2025 Budget Analysis report, has cautioned that the government’s decision to abolish “nuisance taxes” in the 2025 Budget could undermine efforts to meet its ambitious revenue target of GHS 224.9 billion.
The firm’s latest budget analysis highlights potential revenue losses following the removal of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy), Betting Tax, and Emissions Levy, as announced by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
While Deloitte acknowledged the government’s revenue-enhancing measures designed to mitigate the impact of these tax cuts, it underscored the importance of broad-based stakeholder engagement to ensure policy effectiveness.
