The ruling Nana Akufo-Addo-led government has been accused of deceit following the extension of the IMF programme.
The current administration has extended the programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) even though the President during his maiden encounter with the media at the Flagstaff House stated that the deal will not be extended after it ends in December 2018.
At a meeting between government and the Executive Board of the IMF, the deal was extended to April 2019.
However, the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr says government is deceiving Ghanaians by saying the programme will end in April 2019.
According to him to say that the programme will end next year is a ‘lie’ because, “at the expiration of the programme, there is what is called completion exercise; that takes another year. Let nobody deceive himself or herself; that sometime in 2019, we are going to get out of this programme; it’s not possible. This programme will last until the end of 2020; nothing will change; what the NPP criticised in opposition is what they have embraced and it will live with us till 2020 . . . Look the government has not been truthful with us on this question of the IMF. This IMF deal is going to last until 2020 and the government’s promise of pulling out of the IMF deal will not be realised . . . ”
He was of the view that the NPP administration is being hypocritical as far as the IMF programme is concerned because they criticised the erstwhile Mahama administration for going in for it and promised to abrogate it when they come to power; however, when they came to power, they have extended it.
“It is important to go back and see the different positions that has been taken by the current government . . . I recall in one of the lectures that was given by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; he made the point that we are facing a lot of difficulty as a people; people are not getting employment into the public service; freeze on public expenditure and so on and that all that was the result of the deal we had made with the IMF and he made the point that if the New Patriotic Party was elected the deal with the IMF will be completely abrogated; that was the first position. Then that position changed again; and then they told us that if they were elected, they will review the agreement and then that position changed again after election and then they said look we cannot get everything that we want . . . and therefore we will end the program in April 2018. Now, that position has changed again and we are being told that the programme has been extended for another year and that that program will end in April 2019. My friends, that is another lie . . . we are headed for worst times under the regime of the International Monetary Fund and its sister organisation,” he said during a panel discussion on Radio Gold’s 'Alhaji and Alhaji' programme, Saturday.
Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com
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It is as simple as the man Has said it... "If" I marry you I will stop drinking alcoholic beverages ... ok My sweetheart then I will marry you... after marriage ... wifey ... doctor says if I stop drinking the alcoholic beverage I will die early ooo.... don't worry drink am because that's your promise to me... well would you like your husband to live or die... but the bottom line is .... Don't promise what you know you cant handle ... yet if you know what just a Finance Minister handled and you need a whole economic team to handle then Mr. Veep where is your knowledge in Economics as you promised as...? because you cant even think alone ....let to handle simple issues of trustworthiness' The President has lied about the issue yet you don't want to accept it... what is you problem... my friends from the NPP... I heard Lawyer martin today on TV3 stating its not in their manifesto... well did anybody asked the President to highlight it... after he has been elected into Office... pls give as a Break... if not the so called World cup ***barred word*** and that other ***barred word*** bustards... you are no match for President Mahama...and the massive achievement as a President...
It is high time we put politics aside and dealt with issues about this country, dispassionately. After all whether the NPP is in power or the NDC, we as Ghanaians stand to benefit or gain as it were. If whatever Kwesi Pratt is discussing is meaningful, so be it but if there is any interrogation on the issue we should not bastardize him and miss the salient points raised.
Maasaaaa, your Mahana/NDC has LOST bid time and it pains you waaaaaa! No more 'nkwandewaaaaaa' for you!
WE NEED TO ELIMINATE THE ROLE OF MEDIOCRE JOURNALISM THIS NEW ERA OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA'S SERIOUS GROWTH EFFORT TO HEALTHY ECONOMIC GROWTH. THIS IS VITAL, AND WE TACKLE IT WITH STERN CONCERN.
A frustrated man always chases red herrings. Kwesi has never been serious with any topic he pokes his nose into. Ghanaians have given their mandate to the NPP AND SO FAR THE GOVERNMENT IS ON COURSE WITH ABOUT 85% SUCCESS RATE. The economy is in safe hands and your distraction will not cause any ripple let alone an upheaval. The NDC failed in all aspects of governance and even those who are openly NDC are quiet, let alone you who don't openly accept that you are NDC. What is more hypocritical than one who cannot openly belong to a political party because of their stomach? You cannot deceive anyone with your fake CPP membership. Let the NPP tell us what you call 'lies' we the electorate will decide. That is none of your business. Your paymasters looted the national coffers and you did't find anything wrong with it. Now that Ghanaians are blessed with a sane government you are making the noise you are well noted for. Please don't disturb our ears with your notes with unidentifiable pitch (NOISE)!!!
Pratt has a huge task ahead of him. Once his source of food is cut off, he will be ranting like the usual donkey he's been. Your pay master Mahama supervised the quick march into this IMF mess, yet Okusie Pratt did not see anything wrong then. Now he has woken up from the slumber. Hunger will kill you!
Hi folks, please listen to Kwesi very well before you comment on what he has said. I only wish his whole take on the IMF issues would be published here. It makes sense to me papa. this is not the usual politics , but common sense.
Once again Akwasi has missed the logic. One does not simply back out for the sake of backing out. One question that Akwasi should know is: what were the terms of conditions under which NDC and IMF came out of their agreement? Akwasi, are you so sure that the conditions entered into on our behalf by the NDC government have all been met until NPP stepped into office? Factually, any decision taken now by NPP had been dictated partly by the terms under which NDC committed our beloved country. Akwasi, think of these and do not be unduly incensed!
Masa Kwasi how did we end up at IMF? Who caused it? Are you not interested in the causes? hypocrite! NPP is only few months in power give them space to decide what is good for the country. If the NPP after going through the program sees the need to extend it allow them to take the decision. instead of you talking about the causes of the IMF program in Ghana you are rather looking at extension. If you have any energy and wisdom in you channel your frustration on the NDC because they took us to the IMF bcos of the indiscipline and mismanagement. Don't come and disturb the npp.
THIS ONE DEAR U MISS IT OUT. THINK AND COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PENSION MONEY BEING CHOPPED AT SSNIT AND STOP BIAS POLITICAL TALK DON'T WASTE OUR TIME TALKING ABOUT GOV'T EXTENDING IMF DEAL. GOING INTO IMF AND FINDING REALISTIC WAYS TO COME OUR WE WANT REALISTIC ISSUES TALKED ABOUT ALTHOUGH IMF DEAL WAS REAL BUT AS SERIOUS AS SSNIT-OUR PENSION MONEY.