IMF bailout: Ofori-Atta at the helm of affairs will make things difficult for Ghana — Adongo

According to him, until President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo sacks Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, it'll be tough for Ghana during negotiations for the bailout programme.

Speaking to the press, Adongo said going to the IMF was "a sensible decision to have been taken a year ago but the ego of these people made it almost impossible to take the right decision.

"It's still a very long process to arrive at a programme, unfortunately, they are beginning to engage at a time that they are not even prepared to have anything on the table for the IMF to consider… no blueprint, so, chances are that we are going to have a lot of the programme being designed from the perspective of the IMF."

He believes Ofori-Atta leading Ghana's negotiating team is not good for the country.

"They have already started on a faulty leg: asking Ken Ofori-Atta to engage the IMF is equivalent to telling the IMF we don’t want the programme. Ken Ofori-Atta lacks the capacity and is not fit for this type of purpose. Ken Ofori-Atta should be fired immediately … in order to give assurance and comfort to the negotiating partners that Ghana is serious about having a programme. Charles Adu Boahen should follow in toe," he demanded.

Ken Ofori-Atta Pulse Ghana

"The ministry of finance, at this point in time, needs a complete upgrade from the people who are currently sitting there in order that we have credible leadership to engage the IMF and come up with a workable programme”, the opposition MP added.

"Unfortunately, he [Ken Ofori-Atta] is the same man who the president has directed to engage the IMF to go and say what? That we are no more a sovereign country? That we are no more a proud nation? That the people who said they should go to IMF are now not the naysayers but he is now the naysayer because he has come?" he wondered.

"So, the president is playing games. He seems not to understand the doldrums into which they’ve brought the economy.

"I would wish that the government show a clear commitment that it is ready to have an IMF programme that will be to the benefit of the people of Ghana and that we are putting out best foot forward."

NDC MP Isaac Adongo Pulse Ghana

"The man they have asked to go and negotiate with the IMF should not be near any process of negotiation. He and Charles Adu Boahen are the reasons why we are where we are and the president will give himself a chance at having a programme that is acceptable to all stakeholders if Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen are announced as not being ministers by midday today," he noted.

Meanwhile, officials of the IMF will today, Thursday, July 7, 2022, meet Ken Ofori Atta and some officials of the Finance Ministry as the fund officially begins work on the bailout being sought by the country.

The IMF team will also examine the government's fiscal expenditure and projections for the year 2022.