We can do without the IMF – NPP’s Alfred Thompson

A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s Communication team, Mr Alfred Thompson has said Ghana can do without support from the International Monetary Fund(IMF) as far as recovering from its current economic situation is concerned.

“We can do without the IMF if we want to but it will take time, it will take some years. We can do without the IMF but it will take pains”.

Mr Thompson was speaking on TV3 NewDay on Friday, October 14, monitored by GhanaPlus.com.

According to him, the country is blessed with numerous natural resources which it can leverage on its to turn it situation around however, it will take time and that would mean more difficulties hence the decision to go the IMF.

“We could have done without the IMF if we want to but it will take pains and some sacrifice. Sacrifice in the sense that we are going through a difficult tremulous time. I mean people we face pain more than we are facing now but at the end of it all you have to sacrifice something to get something isn’t it. We have all the natural resources that we can turn into finished product. Our problem that we have is that, we don’t turn everything into finished product before we export it”.

Mr Thompson said “You remember we stated we categorically that we don’t believe in going to the IMF for support that why we always had the saying that we are not going to IMF but when we look at the long term we realize that if we within the few years ahead of us don’t get that support that we need to make our people feel ok, then we will take our pride and heart ourselves”.  

Ghana in talks with the IMF

Ghana is currently in talks with the International Monetary Fund for support for it programmes following recent economic difficulties in the country.

The talks commenced some three month ago when the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed the Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta to do so.

A statement from the Ministry of Information sighted by GhanaPlus.com said the President has authorized the Mr of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta to begin discussions with the IMF.

The statement signed by the Minster of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the directive follows a  telephone conversation the President had with the IMF Managing Director on the country’s readiness to engaged the fund.