Ato Forson Pays GH¢2.7bn Into GETFund

The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has disclosed that a total of  GH?2.71 billion has been transferred to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to support key educational initiatives, including the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.

The announcement was made during a presentation to Parliament on Tuesday on the status of statutory fund disbursements.

“Mr Speaker, GH?2.7 billion for the months of January, February, March and April 2025 have all been transferred and received by the Ghana Education Trust Fund,” Dr. Ato Forson stated.

He emphasised that this transfer, made in full and on time, marks a significant step towards stabilising educational financing under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama.

He added that the funding is now fully covering the Free SHS programme under GETFund, helping to eliminate past bottlenecks.

“Subsequently, the challenges, including feeding, which previously impeded the smooth implementation of the programme, have been resolved as a result of the payment that we have made,” he told Parliament.

In addition to education, Dr. Forson reported that GH?987,965,073 has been transferred from the Consolidated Fund to the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), representing the first quarter allocation for 2025.

This move, he said, reflects the government’s firm commitment to fiscal decentralisation and local economic development.

“Mr Speaker, the Administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund is required to ensure that 80% of this amount is transferred directly to the District Assemblies without fail, and expenditure returns submitted to the Ministry of Finance before subsequent releases will be made,” Dr. Ato Forson said.

The Finance Minister lamented how over the past eight years, only 40% to 50% of DACF allocations were directly transferred to the MMDAs, undermining their ability to deliver services.

“It is evident that decisions taken in recent years have regrettably undermined the capacity of MMDAs to respond effectively to the pressing needs of our people at the local level,” he said, blaming the situation on the “re-centralisation” of the fund.

To reverse the trend, the Mahama-led administration has made policy adjustments to ensure that a minimum of 80% of DACF allocations reach the Assemblies directly.

“Without a doubt, this measure will empower Assemblies to drive economic growth at the local level and deepen the process of decentralisation,” he noted.

Dr. Forson announced that approximately GH?6.1 billion of the GH?7.57 billion earmarked for the DACF in 2025 will go directly to local Assemblies, with each expected to receive a minimum of GH?25 million.

Cabinet-approved guidelines have also been issued for the utilisation of DACF funds. These include: 25% for model market construction, 10%  for health infrastructure, including at least two CHPS compounds in rural districts, 10% for educational facilities (KG, primary and JHS blocks), 10%  for potable water (at least ten boreholes), 10% for school furniture, 5% for administration and monitoring, and 20%  to complete abandoned projects by former development authorities.

The Minister for Finance urged Members of Parliament to monitor the utilisation of these funds. “Mr Speaker, Honourable Members are also encouraged to monitor the utilisation of this amount sent to their respective Assemblies in line with the approved guidelines by the Cabinet of President John Dramani Mahama.”

He concluded by affirming government’s broader commitment to timely statutory payments. “Under the leadership of President Mahama and the NDC, for the first time in several months, transfers to all statutory funds have been made promptly and in full,” Dr. Ato Forson assured.

Apart from GETFund and DACF, he revealed that GH?2.03 billion had also been paid into the National Health Insurance Fund, enabling the scheme to clear arrears and implement the MahamaCARES health programme.

Majority Leader

The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, commended the Finance Minister for presenting a comprehensive statement to Parliament on the payment of statutory funds, noting that there has been no delay in disbursements under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.

“Mr. Speaker, the records at the National Health Insurance Authority are clear on a monthly basis, payments have been made to service providers and hospitals. We don’t owe,” he said.

He further stated that contractors under the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) had confirmed receiving payments, adding that the usual disruptions to the Free Senior High School programme due to food shortages had not occurred this year.

Touching on the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), the Majority Leader explained that the temporary hold on disbursements was due to legal and procedural constraints.

“There was no assembly to transfer the money to,” he stressed, pointing out that following the recent elections, the dissolution of district assemblies rendered them legally non-existent until the appointment and inauguration of District Chief Executives and government appointees.

Minority Leader

Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin criticised the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, for veering off the content of the Finance Minister’s statement and ignoring pressing national concerns.

“The Minister of Finance was supposed to provide a policy direction regarding the 24-hour economy. He has failed to do that,” the Minority Leader charged.

He questioned why the Majority remained silent on the Finance Ministry’s failure to address key economic concerns, such as job creation and the non-payment of contractors.

“Why is he not concerned about the mass dismissals in the public sector?” he asked.

He added that the government had made a huge commitment to agriculture, allocating GH?1.5 billion, but pointed out that over GH?900 million of that amount was earmarked for compensation, leaving “nothing meaningful” for actual agricultural investment.

He further slammed the Finance Minister for failing to provide policy direction on the 24-hour economy, despite the President’s assurance during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) that it would feature in the budget.

“The Finance Minister ran away from their own flagship initiative,” he stated.

On tax policy, he questioned why the government had failed to remove port taxes as promised and criticised the silence on the fate of the e-levy.

He also raised concerns about broken promises such as the establishment of women’s banks and the delayed swearing-in of deputy ministers.

“You cannot rise on your feet and mislead Ghanaians that you’ve fulfilled your promises. This budget is a disappointment,” he declared.

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