Finance Minister pushes for law to stop state funds being frozen by court orders

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson is calling for legislation to define which government funds can be frozen through court orders, warning that emergency resources meant to respond to national crises could be rendered inaccessible. Speaking on Joy News' PM Express hours after presenting the Mid-Year Budget to Parliament on Thursday, Dr Forson said the recent freezing of Ghana's constitutional emergency fund exposed the need for clear legal limits on garnishee orders. He explained that Ghana has two main contingency funds, including one created under Article 177 of the Constitution. He stated, "Contingency money for the Republic of Ghana. One is a creation of the Constitution, Article 1771 of the Constitution, and this is the only emergency fund the Constitution created for the Republic of Ghana."

According to Dr Forson, this fund is controlled by Parliament's Finance Committee and can only be accessed after approval. He said the account currently holds ¢500 million at the Bank of Ghana and is reserved for emergencies. He added that the government also maintains another contingency fund managed by the Finance Minister, which had ¢361 million available.