A former Deputy Finance Minister under the Mahama administration, Mona Helen Quartey, has told the government that there was nothing wrong with the administration going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for support.
She said on the Good Evening Ghana programme on Metro TV Tuesday, September 8 that almost every government goes to the IMF for support at a point in time.
Her comment comes after Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the immediate past president, John Mahama, ran down the economy and went to the IMF for a bailout.
When asked what his reaction to the NDC manifesto is at the weekly press conference held in Kumasi on Tuesday, September 8, Mr. Nkrumah said: “I think that the question of manifestos and promises must be looked at very simply from two perspectives.
“First of all, the credibility of the promises that are being made and then secondly the how. When you take the credibility, the good thing is that for the first time the two persons who are the front runners in this elections have both had the opportunity to occupy the office of President.
“So in looking at the credibility of the promises they are making, one ought to first look at their track records, when they were in office and their positions on some of the matters they are speaking to today.
“This will help anybody who want to do an analysis to understand whether or not you can take any of these promises as credible,” he said.
He continued: “If you have somebody who during his period, ran down the Ghanaian economy, went to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout and as a result could not employ young people when they were graduating from school.
“You recall the graduate unemployment associations that were formed. You recall the cancellation of allowances because of economic crisis and the argument that even if they will vote against us they should vote against us.
“And today this person comes back and says that he is going to create one million jobs. Does it sound to anybody like a credible promise?” he quizzed.
But Ms Quartey, in response, said: “We have said that if we come into power at the end of 2020, early 2021, we will have a second Senchi consensus and we will invite everyone once again and hopefully this time the ruling government today if they are out, will attend and we will discuss the future of Ghana and how best to handle the economy
“As for going to the IMF there is nothing wrong with it. If you had the opportunity to leverage and borrow from any bank you will do it.
“This government went to the IMF during the Covid for support so their argument is neither here nor there,” she added.
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana