Business
No contract shall be approved without prior commencement authorisation from Ministry of Finance – Ato Forson
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has insisted that no government contract shall be approved without prior commencement authorisation from the Ministry of Finance.
This directive, he said, took effect from April 3.
Dr Forson stated that the Ministry of Finance will no longer carry the weight of fiscal indiscipline alone.
In a post on his X page, he said “At a recent meeting with Chief Directors and senior officials of various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, I delivered a firm directive that takes effect from April 3, 2025: No government contract shall be approved without prior commencement authorisation from the Ministry of Finance.
“This is not business as usual. This is a decisive step to enforce fiscal discipline, ensure accountability, and end the culture of financial recklessness in public administration. It is in full alignment with the recently amended Public Financial Management Act, 2025. I made it unequivocally clear: You cannot award contracts without the express approval of the Ministry of Finance. Every contract must now receive commencement authorisation. Let me repeat: No commencement certificate, no procurement. This is not merely a bureaucratic process—it is a legal requirement. Any breach of this directive will attract serious consequences.”
He stressed “The Ministry of Finance will no longer carry the weight of fiscal indiscipline alone. If you are a principal spending officer and you violate this directive, you will be held personally accountable.
“I urge all public officials to act with integrity and a deep sense of national duty. We are among the privileged few—we must not continue to subject our people to hardship through negligence or abuse of public resources. Restoring trust in public service begins with transparency, responsibility, and discipline in implementing the national budget. That journey starts now.”
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson earlier announced that the Government of Ghana is set to introduce a policy requiring all state agencies to procure certain essential goods exclusively from local producers.
The Finance Minister made the point that no country can develop without a strong industrial base, and while trade is important, Ghana must adopt deliberate policies to promote local production, hence, the directive to public sector agencies to procure certain goods locally.
Speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), on Thursday April 3, Dr Forson stated that going forward, any government procurement from outside Ghana will require special approval from the Office of the President.

“To support our local industries, the government will soon publish a list of items that all public sector agencies must procure locally. This will ensure that government procurement serves as a tool to develop our industries,” he stated.
“Going forward, any government procurement from outside Ghana will require special approval from the Office of the President,” he added.
The finance minister also highlighted the urgent need to curb the smuggling of goods, which he said is crippling local businesses.
He revealed that the government has identified key smuggling routes and will soon announce strict measures to stop the influx of smuggled goods that unfairly compete with locally manufactured products.
As part of the broader industrial strategy, Dr. Forson called for a working session with industry leaders to explore how local businesses can actively participate in the government’s 24-hour economy programme to drive production and economic expansion.
AGI President, Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, welcomed the government’s commitment to supporting local industries. He praised the minister’s budget policies and expressed optimism that continued engagement between government and industry would lead to tangible improvements in Ghana’s industrial sector.
The upcoming mandatory local procurement policy is expected to provide a significant boost to Ghanaian manufacturers, ensuring that government spending contributes directly to the growth of local businesses and the expansion of the national economy.

Source: 3News
Business
24-Hour Economy Authority Secures Over $8 Billion in Investment Agreements in 90 Days
The Ghana 24-Hour Economy Authority has announced that it has secured bankable investment agreements worth more than $8 billion within the last 90 days, a development officials say demonstrates growing investor confidence in the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy initiative.
The disclosure was made by the Chief Export Development Officer of the Ghana 24-Hour Economy Authority, Gabriel Opoku-Asare, during a roundtable discussion on the theme, “Unlocking Africa’s Single Market: How Can Ghanaian Businesses Win Under AfCFTA?” on Channel One TV as part of the Citi Business Festival held on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
According to Mr. Opoku-Asare, the agreements underscore the government’s commitment to attracting private sector investment to drive the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy agenda, rather than relying extensively on public funding.
He explained that the strategy is designed to reduce pressure on the country’s public finances while accelerating industrial growth and the development of strategic economic corridors across Ghana.
“We are enabling private capital in the development of all the projects we are talking about and the economic corridors we are building. Once private capital comes in, our work is coordination and enabling investment, so it is not sitting on sovereign debt. That is very important to ensure permanence in the long term,” he stated.
Mr. Opoku-Asare noted that the Authority is increasingly focusing on facilitating and coordinating private investments instead of directly financing projects with government resources, a move he believes will enhance the long-term sustainability of the programme.
He further emphasised that the signing of investment agreements exceeding $8 billion within a relatively short period highlights strong investor interest and confidence in the direction of the 24-Hour Economy programme.
“I’ve spoken about, in the last 90 days, all the bankable agreements that we’ve signed already, which is like over $8 billion,” he added.
Business
BoG Halts Proposed Charges on MoMo-to-Bank Transfers
The Bank of Ghana has directed Mobile Money Fintech Limited to suspend its planned 0.75 per cent charge on direct mobile money wallet-to-bank account transfers.
The proposed fee, which was expected to take effect from June 1, 2026, has been put on hold to allow for further stakeholder consultations, the central bank announced on Tuesday, May 26.
The directive follows a notice issued by MTN Ghana on Monday, May 25, informing customers that transfers from MoMo wallets to bank accounts would attract a 0.75 per cent fee per transaction, capped at GH₵5.
Under the proposed arrangement, customers would have been charged even when transferring funds from their own registered MoMo wallet to their personal bank account — a service that has so far been offered free of charge.
In a statement, the Bank of Ghana explained that the suspension forms part of efforts to ensure that any adjustments to charges within the mobile financial services space are implemented in a fair and transparent manner, while safeguarding consumer interests and financial well-being.
For the time being, customers will continue to enjoy free transfers from MoMo wallets to bank accounts, as the proposed charges remain suspended.
The central bank further clarified that existing charges on MoMo wallet-to-wallet transfers, as well as cash-in and cash-out transactions at agent points, remain unchanged.
MTN Ghana is yet to officially respond to the Bank of Ghana’s directive.
Business
MTN Ghana Introduces Charges on MoMo-to-Bank Transfers from June 1
MTN Ghana has announced that Mobile Money users will begin paying charges for transfers from their MoMo wallets to bank accounts effective June 1, 2026, ending years of free transfers for customers moving funds between their own accounts.
In a text message sent to subscribers on Monday evening, May 25, the telecommunications company disclosed that all MoMo-to-bank transfers will now attract a fee of 0.75 per cent per transaction, capped at GH₵5.
Under the new pricing structure, customers transferring GH₵100 from their MoMo wallet to a bank account will pay 75 pesewas, while transfers of GH₵667 and above will attract the maximum charge of GH₵5.
The fee will apply to all bank transfers, including transactions involving bank accounts belonging to the same individual who owns the MoMo wallet. Previously, MTN customers enjoyed free transfers when moving funds between their personally registered MoMo wallets and bank accounts.
According to the company, the move forms part of efforts to improve service delivery to its growing customer base.
“From 1 June 2026, transfers from your MoMo Wallet to bank accounts will attract a fee of 0.75% per transaction, capped at GH₵5. This will help us continue to serve you better. Thank you for choosing MoMo,” the message to customers stated.
The development marks a significant change in MTN Ghana’s mobile financial service charges, particularly for customers who frequently transfer money from MoMo wallets into bank accounts for business and personal transactions.
However, the company clarified that the new charge applies only to transfers from MoMo wallets to bank accounts. Existing charges for MoMo-to-MoMo transfers, as well as cash-in and cash-out transactions at agent points, remain unchanged.
-
Sports1 week agoGFA Boss Kurt Okraku Rejects National Team Players Selection Interference allegations
-
Politics1 week agoAbronye DC Remanded Into Custody After Court Rejects Bid to Vary Bail Conditions
-
Sports2 weeks agoIFAB Approves Major Rule Changes Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup
-
Sports1 week ago2026 FIFA World Cup: Ghana group opponent England defeats New Zealand in a warm up Friendly
-
General News1 week agoSam George Pushes Mandatory National ID Verification for Access to Adult Websites
-
Sports1 week ago2026 FIFA World Cup: Ivory Coast defeats France in Pre-World Cup Friendly
-
Culture2 weeks agoChristian Council Backs Mahama’s Decision to Review Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill
-
Sports1 week ago2026 FIFA World Cup: Ghana arrived in America ahead of the tournament
