The host of Onua TV/morning FM’s show, Maakye, Blessed Godsbrain Smart, said that a bailout from the Breton Woods Institute would be a waste of money if Ghana doesn’t stop galamsey, which is illegal mining.
He says that the government has to deal with the galamsey problem, but the International Monetary Fund also wants all of Ghana’s debt to be restructured before the money can be given out.
The broadcaster who spoke on Friday, October 14, 2022, put his job on the line by saying that he would quit if the IMF gave Ghana a dime by the end of November.
“I’ll stop this work if the IMF gives Ghana even one dollar by November 30. I’m telling you. I’ll beg Auntie Bea, who is the Group CEO of Media General, to let me go. Even in December, no money came.
“The embassies have done research on Ghana, and the money won’t come until we fight galamsey. “The World Bank says you should add up all your debts and then come back,” he threatened.
READ ALSO: BECE Candidates Should Read This Before Tomrrow
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said that the team from the Ministry of Finance that is currently in the United States will stay longer than the time for the World Bank/International Monetary Fund meetings with African Finance Ministers so that they can finish discussions and negotiations with the IMF Mission that is working on the program Ghana wants.
Mr. Ofori-Atta said that is so the team has enough time to make fair decisions about the future.
In an exclusive interview with TV3’s Sani Abdul-Rahman, Mr. Ofori-Atta said, “We are still working, and as you know, we are staying past the Fund and World Bank meetings until maybe the 20th, so we will continue with the Mission and the work.” This was said on the sidelines of a meeting between African Finance Ministers and the G7 as part of the World Bank/IMF meetings in Washington, D.C. We hope that will give us enough time to figure out what to do about the future.
“The Fund is open 24/7 and has a motivated staff. We can uphold the President’s pledge with their passion and our comprehension of the job done.” This year’s summit showed that everyone wants change.