President John Dramani Mahama has urged leaders and heads of government institutions to take greater responsibility for developing Ghana instead of constantly turning to the Finance Ministry for financial support.
The President made the call while encouraging public institutions to become more innovative and proactive in finding ways to execute development projects and fulfil their mandates.
According to Mahama, government agencies and institutions should not approach every development initiative with the expectation that the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, will provide the money needed to implement their plans.
He stressed that the responsibility for national development should be shared across institutions, with leaders expected to explore practical ways of generating resources and making the best use of what is available.
Mahama’s comments were directed at the tendency of some institutions to depend heavily on central government funding whenever they want to undertake projects.
The President’s position is that institutions must become more creative in mobilising resources and should not see the national budget as the only source of funding for their activities.
He urged leaders to focus on developing their respective institutions and contributing to the broader development agenda of the country.
The President’s remarks also highlight the financial pressures facing government and the need for public institutions to operate efficiently. With competing demands on the national budget, government has repeatedly emphasised the importance of prudent spending, improved revenue mobilisation and efficient use of public resources.
Mahama therefore encouraged institutional leaders to think beyond traditional approaches to funding and identify opportunities that could help them achieve their objectives without placing additional pressure on the central government’s finances.
His message was particularly directed at leaders who have the capacity to initiate projects but may be reluctant to proceed without financial allocations from the Finance Ministry.
The President indicated that national development could not depend solely on the ability of the Finance Ministry to release funds to individual institutions.
Instead, institutions must take ownership of their responsibilities and develop strategies that allow them to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s progress.
Dr. Ato Forson, who serves as Finance Minister, has been responsible for managing the country’s finances and overseeing the allocation of government resources to various sectors and institutions.
However, Mahama’s comments suggest that ministries, departments and agencies must recognise the limitations of relying exclusively on government funding, particularly when resources are constrained.
The call for greater self-reliance also reflects a broader push for public institutions to improve efficiency and accountability.
Institutions that are able to generate internally generated funds, attract partnerships or identify alternative sources of financing could potentially reduce the pressure placed on the national budget.
Mahama’s remarks therefore serve as a reminder to government officials that development requires collective effort and innovative thinking.
Rather than waiting for funds to be released from the centre, institutional leaders are being encouraged to identify solutions, pursue partnerships and make better use of resources within their reach.
The President’s message comes as his administration continues to pursue its development agenda while dealing with the country’s fiscal challenges.
For Mahama, the success of Ghana’s development efforts will require commitment from all sectors of government and not only the Finance Ministry.
His appeal to institutional leaders is ultimately for them to take ownership of development projects and avoid the practice of depending on Ato Forson for funding for every initiative.
@ghbrain_ LIVE | “Develop our country, but don’t go to Ato Forson for money.” — President John Dramani Mahama. President Mahama has commended the Ghana Airports Company Limited for its ability to fully fund major airport development projects from its own resources, including the construction of the Multi-Purpose, Multi-Tiered Car Park and Airport Hotels Complex. – #ghbrain ♬ original sound – GHBRAIN
Source: Thepressradio.com
