The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has stated that global developments in the past two years have forced the government to seek support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Presenting the mid-year budget in Parliament today, Mr. Ofori-Atta admitted to saying that Ghana will not embark on an IMF programme.
“I did say that Ghana will not embark on an IMF programme. We did not just say it; we also took measures towards the attainment of that objective including the passage of the Physical Responsibility Act and instituting a number of irreversibility measures and also launching the GhanaCARES “Obaatanpa” programme for economic revitalization and transformation.”
The Finance Minister said unprecedented global developments have disrupted government efforts toward building a sound economy.
“Unfortunately, unprecedented global developments, Mr. Speaker, in the past two years, especially in these last six months, have really and truly disrupted our efforts.”
He said governments across the world have had to change strategies to tackle the current crisis.
“Governments that less than a year ago were busily talking about energy transition in green and cleaner fuels have gone back to powering their cold plants. Governments that are known for low taxes are now raising taxes…these are not ordinary times not for Ghana, not for Africa and certainly not for the whole world.”
“Right Honorable Speaker, let us all acknowledge that the situation we are experiencing now is different. It is therefore disappointing when people want to pretend that these developments are purely domestic,” Mr. Ofori-Atta added.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Osuman Kaapore Tahiru|Ghana
