Open your eyes and review Covid spending thoroughly – Isaac Adongo to IMF team

• Posted on July 13, 2022July 13, 2022
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Bolgatanga Central lawmaker, Isaac Adongo has asked the team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to thoroughly review and scrutinize government’s spending especially in the area of the fight against coronavirus.

If possible, he said, the team should visit the Bank of Ghana to scrutinize their documents regarding the releases they made to the government of Ghana to tackle the virus.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Tuesday July 12, he said “IMF, open your eyes there. [Regarding] Covid, open your eyes, review all their documents, budget statements, they should open their eyes, that is where the meat is. IMF, If it is possible go and sit at Bank of Ghana and check how much they have given to government.”

The IMF staff team, led by Carlo Sdralevich, mission chief for Ghana, is in Ghana for initial discussions with Ghanaian authorities about a possible IMF-supported programme.

Mr. Sdralevich in a statement said “On the basis of a request from the Ghanaian authorities, an IMF staff team will in the coming days kick-start discussions on a possible program to support Ghana’s homegrown economic policies. We are at an early stage in the process, given that detailed discussions are yet to take place.”

“The IMF stands ready to assist Ghana to restore macroeconomic stability, safeguard debt sustainability, and promote inclusive and sustainable growth, and address the impact of the war in Ukraine and the lingering pandemic.”

“We are looking forward to our engagement with the authorities in Accra,” the Fund said.

The Government of Ghana on Friday July 1 announced that it was seeking support from the IMF.

This followed a telephone conversation between the President and the IMF Managing Director, Miss Kristalina Georgieva, conveying Ghana’s decision to engage with the Fund, a statement by the Ministry of Information said.

By Laud Nartey