AYARIGA: "DR. ATO FORSON HAS PROVEN YOU CAN RUN ECONOMY WITHOUT MOMO TAX AND RECKLESS BORROWING

The Majority Leader, *Mahama Ayariga*, has praised the Finance Minister, *Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson*, saying he has proven that the economy can be managed successfully without the *e-levy* and reckless borrowing.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, July 23, 2026, during debate on the *Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2026 Budget*, Ayariga contrasted the current administration with the previous one.

*"Mr speaker we were in this country in this parliament and there was a finance minister who told us that he could not run this economy without taxing our Momo transfers. That he could not run this economy without taxing our Momo transfers,"* he stated.

Ayariga said the previous minister also relied heavily on debt.

*"A finance minister who could not run the economy without going for debts,"* he said.

He argued that Dr. Forson has taken a different approach and delivered results.

*"Today we have a finance minister who has abolished all those taxes and yet he is successfully managing our economy. We have a finance minister who is not borrowing recklessly but is successfully managing our economy,"* Ayariga told the House.

The Majority Leader concluded that the mid-year review shows strong stewardship.

*"That is why I said that this finance minister has clearly given a good account of himself,"* he said.

The Majority Leader, *Mahama Ayariga*, has defended the *Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2026 Budget*, saying the Finance Minister, *Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson*, has given "a very good account of himself" in executing the budget approved by Parliament.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, July 23, 2026, Ayariga addressed claims of inconsistency in fund releases to the Ministry of Agriculture.

*"Mr Speaker I must say that the Finance Minister has given a very good account of himself. Mister Speaker just to correct the records, just to correct the records there's no inconsistency between what the Finance Minister said and what his deputy mentioned some time ago,"* he stated.

Ayariga broke down the figures cited by the Minister and his deputy.

*"His deputy mentioned that he had given a release of one point one billion. One point six billion. Today today the Finance Minister reported that he has given one point one billion to the Ministry of Agriculture and he also paid he also paid five hundred and fifty-one million for Farmer Services Centre. If you put the two together that's one point six,"* he told the House.