President Nana Akufo Addo has defended Government’s decision to seek IMF help for ailing economy bailout.
According to the President the decision was necessary to repair public finances after the devastating impact of the pandemic of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.
“Economies have been plunged into recessions, businesses have collapsed, and lives and livelihoods have been disrupted. Food and fuel prices have escalated dramatically, as global and domestic inflationary pressures mount. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, the world will make up on lost time” Akufo Addo explained.
The President has come under severe criticism following his Government reversal position on the IMF after initially stating that the E-Levy bill would help revive the economy.
Swearing in 10 Ambassadors and High Commissioners at Jubilee House, on Thursday, Akufo Addo stated that “in our case, we have decided to seek the collaboration of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to repair, in the short run, our public finances, which have taken a severe hit in very recent times as a result, whilst we continue to work on the medium to long-term structural changes that are at the heart of our goal of creating a Ghana Beyond Aid, that is building a resilient, robust Ghanaian economy.”
President Akufo-Addo told the Ambassadors and High Commissioners that the twin events of COVID-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have emphasized the need for stronger ties of co-operation and bonds of friendship around the world.
“No country can afford to go it alone, we either succeed together or we perish together. And this is where your work as Ambassadors and High Commissioners will be needed the most,” he added.
The High Commissioners sworn-in by the President include Mrs. Worwornyo Agyeman, High Commissioner to the Republic of Sierra Leone; and Mrs. Florence Buerkie Akonor, High Commissioner to the Federation of Malaysia.
The rest are Mrs. Merene Benyah, Ambassador to the Republic of Italy; Mr. Mohammed Nurudeen Ismaila, Ambassador to the State of Qatar; Ms. Mavis Esi Kusorgbor, Ambassador to the Republic of Angola; Mrs. Lydia Ofosua Amartey, Ambassador to the State of Israel; Ambassador Emmanuel Kwame Asiedu Antwi, Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation; Mrs. Emma Mensah, Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal; Ambassador Ahmed Hassan, Ambassador-at-Large; and Mr. Henry Tachie-Menson, Ambassador-in-Situ.
