Ghana's return to IMF:blame NDC-Mr Afful

A leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP), in the Tain District of the Bono Region, Mr. Afful Benjamin Manu popularly known as Nsawkawdehyeɛ, has hinted that the rejection of the benchmark value proposal by the minority in parliament accounts for the country's return to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to the  businessman, should the benchmark value proposal be passed into law, it would have prevented the importation of basic but regularly used commodities such as
 sugar, sanitary pad, sanitary towel, toilet rolls, and rice amongst others.
The move, he noted would have given local producers the impetus and motivation to produce the same here in Ghana.
Though he conceded that the prizes of commodities would have shot out that might be for a short period.

Rather than creating employment opportunities for citizens of Ghana, he said Ghana's unrelenting penchant for importation is continuously sustaining employment opportunities in the economies of countries from which Ghana imports those commodities.

Also, he added that the cedi will gain its strength against the dollar should the move be righteously done.
 
The NPP guru bemoaned the government's decision to seek a bailout from the  International Monetary Fund (IMF) thereby putting the country under the control of the world financial body, a matter he vehemently kicked against.

In an interview with Tain FM Anopa Nkomo monitored by Daily Analyst, Mr. Afful maintained that the Minority's delay in corroborating the government's efforts in the passage of the government bills such as E-levy has accounted for the slow progress of government business and contributed to IMF for a bailout.

He said the e-levy if passed earlier would've been an avenue to raise funds internally but passed late has not served the intended purpose.

He however accused the Minority in Parliament of sabotaging the efforts of governments in safeguarding the economy, an act he described as an anti-nation-building move resulting in the revert to the IMF for a bailout.

He alleged that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) was harboring plans to take the country to the IMF within 100 days of winning the upcoming 2024 elections.

Mr. Manu disclosed that he was distressed upon noticing that the President has directed the Finance Ministry to engage the IMF for a bailout.

Mr. Afful's party blamed electorates for the voting shirts and blouses resulting in the current hung parliament.

Story: Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor