President Akufo-Addo has indicated that even though Ghana’s access to the $3 billion IMF facility will not spell an immediate end to the difficulties that the country is facing currently, it (the IMF deal) sends a positive message to its trading partners, creditors, and investors,
“Fellow Ghanaians, access to the IMF facility will not spell the immediate end of the difficulties we are in presently, but the fact that we have been able to negotiate such a deal sends a positive message to our trading partners, creditors, and investors; a positive message that will be underpinned by the discipline, hard work and enterprise with which we execute the programme,” the President said during an address to the nation yesterday.
“It should lead to the restoration of confidence and the reopening of avenues that had been closed to us this past year and a half. It should also lead to the resumption of many of the infrastructural projects that have stalled,” he added.
According to him, the country got itself out of a pandemic “in which there were no precedents on which to rely, and where even the experts admitted they had no clear-cut solutions. We did it by being resolute, being focused, and working very hard, and by accepting that we had to stick together”
With a similar frame of mind and attitude, the President expressed optimism that the country shall overcome the economic difficulties as well, sooner rather than later. “I have no doubts at all in my mind that we are on the right path, and we would soon start to see significant improvements in the economy and in the living standards of Ghanaians,” he said.
According to him, Ghana is a God-fearing and a God-loving nation, and that is why throughout his presidency, he has consistently stressed that the Battle is the Lord’s.
“Thus, three years ago, when the pandemic first hit us, I asked for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting for God’s help to be observed on 25th March, 2020. Now that the Lord has heard our prayers and seen us through this COVID trial, I would respectfully ask that next Friday, i.e. 2nd June, all Muslims should say a special prayer of gratitude for our nation’s health, and that next Saturday and Sunday, i.e. 3rd and 4th June, all Christians should do the same. Fellow Ghanaians, we shall overcome our present economic difficulties. The Battle is indeed the Lord’s. Goodnight, and may God bless us all and our homeland Ghana, and make her great and strong. I thank you,” he concluded.