Accra: Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has dismissed claims of a strained relationship between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) over a disputed GHS1.6 billion funding release. He described the controversy as a misunderstanding arising from differences in the interpretation of public finance terminology, insisting there was no conflict between the two ministries.
According to Ghana Web, the disagreement became public after Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Ampem Nyarko announced that the government had released about GHS1.6 billion to MoFA, representing approximately 85% of the ministry's 2026 allocation for Goods and Services and Capital Expenditure. MoFA, however, disputed the claim, explaining that although the release had been approved, the ministry had not received the full amount cited by the Finance Ministry.
Dr. Forson explained that the disagreement stemmed from the distinction between a release and an actual payment under the government's public financial management system. He clarified that a release means funds have been allocated and made available to a ministry within the government's financial system, while payment occurs only after the ministry completes the necessary administrative processes to access the funds.
The issue came to public attention in June 2026 after the Deputy Finance Minister's statement, which referenced releases, conflicted with MoFA's interpretation, which referred to payments. Dr. Forson emphasized that budget allocations are estimates based on projected revenue and that ministries may receive releases before completing the processes required to access the actual cash.
Records from the Ministry of Finance indicate that releases for Goods and Services had reached 94.73% of the approved allocation, while releases for Capital Expenditure stood at 74.66%. The controversy also sparked speculation due to Dr. Forson and Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku's potential involvement in future leadership contests within the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC). However, Dr. Forson rejected suggestions of political undertones, maintaining that the issue was purely administrative and confirming that the Finance Ministry's position on the amount released to the Agriculture Ministry remains accurate.