Former President John Dramani Mahama has observed that Ghana’s return to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a financial bailout has made ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ the biggest joke of the decade.
According to him, the policies implemented by President Nana Akufo-Addo have done very little to promote the country’s development and benefit citizens.
He lamented the Akufo-Addo administration has damaged Ghana’s reputation in the eyes of its peers on the African continent.
Speaking at the 7th Ghana CEO Summit and Expo in Accra on Monday 22nd May 2023, the National Democratic Congress flagbearer noted that economic sovereignty in this modern era, viewed through the length of viable, healthy, and beneficial interdependence and inter-relatedness must become the foundation for social growth and progress.
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The quest for economic orientation, he said, must certainly go beyond flowery and impactless speech about Ghana Beyond Aid, which he cited as one example of a policy direction that has resulted in such inefficiency.
He stated the much-touted commitment to eliminate the country’s dependence on foreign aid has been rather reduced to a mere mantra due to a lack of real implementation on the ground.
“This is the reason why Ghana has become a subject of ridicule on the international stage, especially as it receives the first tranche of a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) without which the economy would have collapsed.”
“Indeed our return to the IMF – cup in hand – has made our Ghana Beyond Aid policy the butt of jokes amongst many commentators in the world. It will take a resolute and committed political will to determine our own economic destiny,” he stressed.
He stressed that it will require the ability to determine Ghana’s own economic policies, make decisions that prioritize the well-being of her citizens, and create an environment conducive to the advancement of sustainable growth and development for job creation.
The 2023 Ghana CEO Summit brought together stakeholders, including the Chief Executives (CEO) Network of Ghana, to restore Ghana’s economy and strive for sustainable economic sovereignty.