Ghana’s Economy Would not Have Survived Lockdown Beyond 3 Weeks – Finance Minister

Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has backed government decision in lifting partial lockdown on certain covid-19 hotspot areas within country, despite growing concerns from critics that the move might worsen the pandemic.

According to the Finance Minister, it was impossible to continue with the restriction on movement, considering the devastating impact it would have on Ghana’s economy.

He added that government would not have been able to sustain the economy should the lockdown have continued.

Ken Ofori-Atta explained that the majority of country’s population is informal, and their wages are earned on daily basis.

 “When you look at what happened during the lockdown. It was quite clear after a point that given the 90% of our population is informal and they go out each day to earn wages, it became increasingly impossible to continue with such a policy,” Mr. Ofori-Atta said while speaking at the Jubilee House.

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President Akufo-Addo initially imposed a two-week partial lockdown in Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi, as part of measures to curtail the spread of the Covid-19 disease.

The lockdown was extended by another week, but has since been lifted by the President.

The country is also set to record a significant drop in revenue target for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To mitigate the impact of the pandemic, though, a Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) has been established to facilitate economic recovery.

SOURCE: Pulse.com.gh