The future of the youth is too important for waste — Ato Forson

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has made clear that the New Economy agenda for Ghana must prioritize value for money, emphasizing that the nation cannot afford to squander valuable resources needed to create opportunities for its young people. Speaking at the University of Ghana, he stressed that investments in this program must be judged by their capacity to generate jobs, bolster businesses, and enhance living standards.

Forson declared that the "New Economy must be disciplined because the future of young people is too important for waste," and stressed that "every cedi must work." He outlined five key questions against which investments must be judged: productivity, job creation, expansion of exports, support for private enterprise, and improvement in the lives of Ghanaians.

If an investment fails to answer these questions, it should not be at the heart of the transformation, according to Forson. He linked the need for spending discipline directly to the prospects of young Ghanaians, making productive investment and employment central to the program's success. Forson also stressed that this discipline must be matched by ambition to tackle the country's challenges, calling for a bold approach due to the scale of the problem.

He emphasized that national participation is crucial, as government alone cannot achieve economic transformation. "Transformation cannot be carried by government alone," he said, underscoring the importance of collective effort in driving the program forward.