President Nana Akuff0-Addo has given the surest assurance yet about the possible impact of Ghana’s 17th International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic bailout programme on some of his administration’s social interventions initiatives.
Since news broke about two months ago that Ghana is heading back to the IMF to seek financial support for its ailing economy, many policy analysts and political commentators predicted that some government flagship programmes like the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) initiative will be scrapped.
But President Akuffo-Addo is assuring the people of Ghana that the Free SHS and other key policies of its administration will remain intact.
Speaking in an interview with Bolgatanga Based URA Radio in the Upper East Region, the President said the policy was introduced even when the government was under an IMF program.
“The SHS policy was introduced in September of my first term in office within nine months of my coming under an IMF programme. So it’s already being accommodated within the thinking of a fund program for Ghana,” he said.
The President further assured that his administration will do well to ensure it negotiate a good pact with the IMF with no adverse impact on key pro-poor programmes introduced by his government.
“And already I think you’ve heard the statement the IMF Country Director made not too long ago that they cannot see how such an important social intervention can be sacrificed on the altar of a program with them.
“All our minds are going in the same direction. I’m very, very confident that these programs, especially the free SHS and free TVET programs will emerge from the fund intact,” President Nana Addo assured.
Source:Opolitics
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