Finance Minister cannot decide which approved funds to release – Bomfeh

Political analyst, Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr, has criticised suggestions that the Finance Minister can independently determine which approved government allocations to release, insisting that public officials must operate within established state procedures.

In an interview with Joy News on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, amid the ongoing controversy over funding for the agriculture sector, he argued that ministers are bound by the authority entrusted to them and cannot act outside the mandates of government institutions.

According to him, no minister has the power to disregard approved allocations based on personal discretion.

“No minister is above the authority entrusted to him or her,” he stated.

His comments challenge conflicting claims by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture regarding the release of funds for agricultural programmes.

Bomfeh maintained that the Finance Minister’s role does not include deciding which approved expenditures should be honoured and which should be withheld.

“The fact that you are Finance Minister doesn’t mean you choose to release what you want and what you don’t. You don’t have that luxury,” he said.

He further stressed that government institutions must function according to laid-down rules, legal frameworks, and approved mandates rather than the preferences of individual officeholders.

Bomfeh noted that adherence to due process is critical for accountability and the smooth functioning of government, especially in the management and disbursement of public funds.

ANAS/SA

Mining licence renewals must follow due process – GIPC CEO