Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has praised the Ministry of Finance for what she described as its resilience and discipline in helping Ghana navigate a difficult economic period and laying the foundation for recovery and sustainable growth.
Addressing staff of the Ministry during a visit to the institution, the Vice President acknowledged the economic challenges the current administration inherited upon assuming office in January and commended the Ministry’s leadership and staff for remaining focused in the face of difficult circumstances.
She congratulated the Minister for Finance, the Deputy Minister and staff of the Ministry for their collective efforts, noting that national progress depended on teamwork across government institutions and agencies.
According to her, public officials across the country are united by a common responsibility to support the government and work in the interest of Ghana’s development.
The Vice President stressed the importance of placing national interest at the centre of decision-making, urging public servants to ensure that policies and interventions have a positive impact on the lives of citizens.
She acknowledged that government had been compelled to take difficult decisions as part of efforts to stabilise the economy and improve the country’s long-term prospects, adding that such measures were necessary to prevent deeper economic challenges.
Prof Opoku-Agyemang also expressed appreciation to Ghanaians and public sector workers for their patience, understanding and support as government implements reforms aimed at restoring economic stability.
Reflecting on the country’s debt obligations, she observed that significant public resources continue to be channelled into debt servicing instead of critical sectors such as education, healthcare and infrastructure development.
She said the situation underscored the need for prudent economic management and policies that would prevent future generations from inheriting similar financial burdens.
The Vice President further commended the Ministry for promoting fiscal discipline and improving expenditure management, describing these measures as critical to sustaining recent economic gains.
She also encouraged efforts to diversify and deepen the country’s economic base by adding value to key commodities such as gold and cocoa rather than relying primarily on exports of raw materials and volatile commodity prices.
On gender inclusion, Prof Opoku-Agyemang welcomed the Ministry’s achievement of having women constitute 41 per cent of its workforce and encouraged management to continue promoting women into leadership positions.
She reiterated government’s commitment to inclusive growth and highlighted plans to operationalise the proposed Women’s Development Bank to support women entrepreneurs and businesses, particularly those operating within the informal sector and lacking access to traditional banking services.
According to her, the initiative would provide financial support to women at the grassroots level and contribute to reducing barriers to economic participation.
The Vice President concluded by recognising the contributions of all categories of workers within the Ministry, including drivers, cleaners, messengers and other support staff, noting that their efforts are essential to the functioning and success of public institutions.
She stressed that government policies and decisions must ultimately improve the lives and livelihoods of all Ghanaians, regardless of their position within society.
