Seth Terkper

Hon
Seth Terkper
17th Minister for Finance and Economic Planning
In office
Jan 2013 – Jan 2017
PresidentJohn Dramani Mahama
Preceded byKwabena Duffuor
Succeeded byKen Ofori-Atta
Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning
PresidentJohn Evans Attah-Mills
Preceded byGeorge Gyan-Baffour
Succeeded byCassiel Ato Forson
Personal details
NationalityGhanaian
Political partyNational Democratic Congress
Alma materUniversity of Cape Coast
Harvard University
OccupationChartered Accountant

Seth Emmanuel Terkper is a Ghanaian chartered accountant and politician who served as the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning of Ghana from 2013 to 2017 under the John Mahama Government.[1][2]

Early life and education

Seth Terkper was born in Somanya in the Eastern Region of Ghana, where he started his elementary school education in the Presby cluster of schools.

He obtained his first degree in B.Comm from the UCC in Ghana. He is also a Chartered Accountant who holds an MPA degree from the Kennedy School, Harvard University.[3]

Early career

Between July 1999 and February 2009, Terkper held various positions (last as Senior Economist) in the Fiscal Affairs Dept. (FAD) of the IMF in Washington, DC.[4]

He participated in, and led, several technical assistance (TA) missions to member-states to improve the organization, process and legislation for revenue institutions. In so doing, he worked with colleagues in the Tax Policy [TP] and other Divisions in FAD; the African and Legal departments; the Caribbean Technical Assistance Centre [CARTAC]; and other IMF units to achieve critical TA goals. As a chartered accountant and public administrator, he follows fiscal, accounting, and other economic trends closely.[5]

Before joining the IMF, Terkper worked in staff and management positions—including National VAT Coordinator and Deputy Commissioner—in the National Revenue Secretariat MOFEP and revenue agencies in Ghana. He played a key role in the introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) in Ghana.

Political career

Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning

U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit MCC Ghana Compact. (Seth Tekper on the left side with President John Mahama behind him).

As a Deputy Minister in the MOFEP from March 2009 to January 2013, Terkper worked mainly on the Budget and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) as well as on revenue policy and administration. During the period, he became very active in working on government business in Parliament, including the passage of Bills and approval of International Agreements.[citation needed]

He is a member of the board of directors of the BOG and chaired the joint Steering Committee of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) reforms.[6]

Minister for Finance and Economic Planning

In 2013 Terkper was appointed to serve as the 17th Minister for Finance and Economic Planning by President John Dramani Mahama after serving as the deputy minister in the John Evans Atta Mills Government.[7][1][8]

He has consulted for the IMF; Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID), Harvard International Tax Program (ITP); African Development Bank (AfDB), and UN Committee of Tax Experts. He was a correspondent for Tax Analysts, USA.[9][1]

Terkper has been part of and participated in leadership positions in local government (including membership of the Yilo District Assembly), social, religious, and student bodies.

Author

Terkper published a book on VAT (VAT Handbook by Thompson-Reuters) in 2011 and continues to maintain a keen interest in research, publications, reviews and teaching.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Seth Terkper, Minister of Finance: Interview". Oxford Business Group. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Economy could be performing better". www.thefinderonline.com. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  3. ^ "SOCIAL:Seth Terkper to lead Finance Ministry". Official website. Ghana Districts.com. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Profile of Honourable Seth Emmanuel Terkper - Minister of Finance and Economic Planning". Official website. Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Ghana. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  5. ^ "A former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper challenges Ghana's debt figures published by Bank of Ghana". Pulse Ghana. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Seth Emmanuel Terkper". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Prez Mahama releases first batch of ministers; Omane-Boamah to head Communications Ministry". tv3network.com. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  8. ^ Bigg, Matthew Mpoke (21 October 2016). "Ghana parliament grants $2.75 bln state funding to March 2017". Reuters (in French). Retrieved 6 December 2020.[dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Seth Terkper, Ghana's number cruncher". The Africa Report.com. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Seth Terkper Coordinator, Value Added Tax Project, Ghana". Official website. Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs, Princeton University. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Efficiency is the Word". The Business Year. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Finance and Economic Planning
2013 – 2017 		Succeeded by