By Daniel Bampoe
The Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has publicly criticized the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, for failing to deposit any funds into the national Sinking Fund, despite prior commitments made during his vetting.
Annoh-Dompreh raised the issue on the floor of Parliament while discussing the Business Statement for the coming week, emphasizing the urgent need for transparency and accountability in the management of the country’s debt obligations.
During his address, Annoh-Dompreh recalled that Dr. Ato Forson had, during vetting, promised to prioritize payments into the Sinking Fund as part of the government’s debt management strategy.
The Finance Minister had also criticized the previous administration for its handling of the Fund, claiming he would do more once approved.
“During his vetting, he courageously said that one of the government’s policies would be to help put funds into the Sinking Fund. You had said that the previous government that put GH¢138 million into the Fund didn’t do anything and you were going to do more,” he stated.
However, the Minority Chief Whip expressed concern that these pledges remain unfulfilled, stressing that “as we speak, not even a cedi has been put into the Sinking Fund. Nothing.”
He urged Parliament to summon the Finance Minister to provide an explanation, insisting that the nation’s debt management mechanisms require active monitoring.
Annoh-Dompreh’s intervention highlights ongoing anxieties about fiscal responsibility and public accountability, particularly in light of rising debt levels and the critical role of the Sinking Fund in ensuring Ghana meets its debt obligations sustainably.
