Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has denied reports of a disagreement between him and the Food and Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku.

Speaking on Citi FM on Friday, July 24, 2026, the minister said he shares a close relationship with Eric Opoku which has lasted for years, describing him as a friend.

“Yes. We are extremely close,” he said when asked by the host.

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Dr Forson said he had recently spoken with Opoku and maintained that their working relationship remained strong.

“I spoke to Eric just last week. No, there's no issue at all. He's been my colleague in Parliament for years.

“When I went to Parliament in 2008, he had just served one term and left. He came back and joined us in 2012, and he has since been my friend. I've worked very closely with Eric, he stated.

Dr Ato Forson’s comments follow reports that had suggested tension between the heads of the Finance and Agriculture ministries.

The report had linked the alleged rift to a disputed GH¢1.6 billion funding release, which it described as a misunderstanding caused by differences in the interpretation and use of public finance terms.

The claim was made by Miracles Aboagye, who alleged that the Finance Minister was sabotaging his fellow ministers by selectively prioritizing the release of funds to certain ministries.

He suggested that Dr Forson prioritized funding to the Roads and Energy Ministries, while leaving others, including the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Education, struggling with inadequate disbursements.

However, reacting to the claims, Dr Ato Forson dismissed the reports, explaining the supposed rift came from a misunderstanding after comments by his deputy at the Finance Ministry and a response from the Agriculture Ministry.

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“There is no problem. I think it’s a misconception that started when the Deputy Minister of Finance, my deputy, made a statement which the Ministry of Agriculture also responded to.

“But I think the bottom line is that they were all speaking about two different things, and it is coming as a result of a lack of understanding of the terminologies being used by both sides,” he added.



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