Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, Secretary-General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), has warned the government against agreeing to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program that will harm public sector workers.
He gave notice that he would lead a strike if the upcoming IMF program created difficulties for workers.
Dr Yaw Baah, speaking at a press conference in Accra on Monday, July 18, said the economy’s problem is mismanagement and corruption. He claims that if these two issues are addressed, the problems will be reduced.
“The IMF-sponsored program poses the greatest challenge to Ghanaians.” As we all know, the government has begun negotiating with the IMF, and we all know that IMF programs and policies are completely disconnected from reality. We have already communicated our opposition to the decision to seek IMF bailout for the eighteenth time.
“We are convinced that an IMF program will not solve our problems; rather, it will impose hardship on Ghanaians.” We would like to remind the government that as part of the negotiations for the 2021/2022 base pay, we agreed to make 4% and 7% raises, respectively, on the condition that the government does not declare redundancy and continues to hire young people into the public sector.
“Our main challenge with the management of the economy has to do with the corruption and failure on the part of successive governments to transform the structure of the economy of this country so that Ghanaians can produce what we eat and eat what we produce,” he said.
He added “Currently, the profit-making sectors, including mining, petroleum and banking, are all in the hands foreigners. I always ask my colleagues, why is it that Nigerian banks are all over the country but I cannot hear of any Ghanaian banks in Nigeria? IMF porgrammes will not deal with these fundamentals. IMF porgrammes, you know what they do?
“They only prepare the country for another IMF programme, that is why you go for one, two or three, four up to 18. So this 218th programme is going to prepare Ghana for 19th programme and the 19th one will prepare Ghana for the 20th. You know it is like that? so that IMF will be in business otherwise they have no business.
“We know very well that the 18th programme that is being negotiated will not be different but I want to assure you all Ghanaians that what will be different is that TUC will will lead the working people of Ghana to resist any attempts to impose hardships on workers and their families and the Ghanaian people because the IMF, the content of the programme will not be different but the resistance from the people of Ghana will make it different.”
Ghana has gone to seek support from the Fund.
Accordingly, a staff team led by Carlo Sdralevich arrived in Ghana on July 6 to engage the government of Ghana. The team concluded its initial work on Wednesday July 13.
The IMF team met with Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, and Governor Ernest Addison of the Bank of Ghana.
They also met with the Parliament’s Finance Committee, civil society organizations, and development partners, including UNICEF and the World Bank to engage on social spending.
At the conclusion of the mission, Mr. Sdralevich issued the following statement said “Ghana is facing a challenging economic and social situation amid an increasingly difficult global environment. The fiscal and debt situation has severely worsened following the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, investors’ concerns have triggered credit rating downgrades, capital outflows, loss of external market access, and rising domestic borrowing costs.
“In addition, the global economic shock caused by the war in Ukraine is hitting Ghana at a time when the country is still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic shock and with limited room for maneuver. These adverse developments have contributed to slowing economic growth, accumulation of unpaid bills, a large exchange rate depreciation, and a surge in inflation.
“The IMF team held initial discussions on a comprehensive reform package to restore macroeconomic stability and anchor debt sustainability. The team made progress in assessing the economic situation and identifying policy priorities in the near term. The discussions focused on improving fiscal balances in a sustainable way while protecting the vulnerable and poor; ensuring credibility of the monetary policy and exchange rate regimes; preserving financial sector stability; and designing reforms to enhance growth, create jobs, and strengthen governance.
“IMF staff will continue to monitor the economic and social situation closely and engage in the coming weeks with the authorities on the formulation of their Enhanced Domestic Program that could be supported by an IMF arrangement and with broad stakeholders’ consultation
“We reaffirm our commitment to support Ghana at this difficult time, consistent with the IMF’s policies.
“Staff express their gratitude to the authorities, civil society, and development partners for their constructive engagement and support during the mission.”
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.
