Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson has held discussions with Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, who also serves as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health, focusing on financial inclusion and economic empowerment.
The meeting centred on the broader concept of financial health, with both sides stressing the need to ensure citizens are not only connected to financial systems but meaningfully empowered by them.
“Our conversation went beyond finance in its narrow sense. We spoke about financial inclusion, but more profoundly about financial health, the condition in which individuals are not merely connected to the financial system, but are empowered by it,” he said.
Dr. Forson noted that economic progress should be measured beyond statistics, emphasizing its impact on people’s lives.
“At its core, an economy is not a compilation of figures. It is a living expression of human agency. It reflects whether people can withstand shocks, pursue opportunity, and plan their futures with confidence,” he stated.
He outlined government’s economic philosophy under its reset agenda, focusing on translating stability and growth into tangible benefits for citizens.
“In our reset agenda, we are guided by a simple but demanding philosophy. Stability must translate into security for households. Growth must translate into opportunity for individuals. And access must translate into dignity for all,” he said.
The Finance Minister further stressed the need for an inclusive financial system that supports all citizens.
“We are therefore committed to building an economy where inclusion is not symbolic, but practical. Where participation is not limited, but universal. And where no Ghanaian is left outside the circle of opportunity,” he added.
He concluded that the ultimate measure of economic success lies in human wellbeing rather than macroeconomic indicators.
“Because the true test of our progress is not the strength of our aggregates, but the strength of our people,” he said.
