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Ghana’s Economic Situation Dire: But We’ll Assist To Achieve Durable, Inclusive Growth – IMF Resident Rep

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Ghana has a new Resident Representative. Dr Leandro Medina (LM) assumed office in Ghana in September last year and got straight busy with the staff-level negotiation with the country for a programme that enables the fund to offer assistance towards microeconomic stability and debt sustainability. He opened up to answer some questions from Theophilus Yartey (TY), Deputy Editor of the Daily Graphic, on many issues.
THEOPHILUS Yartey (TY): You just began your new role as the Resident Representative of the IMF in Ghana. Is Ghana your first station in Africa? What are your impressions of the country?
Leandro Medina (LM): I took up the role of IMF Resident Representative to Ghana in September. I have been warmly welcomed by the people of Ghana and I am looking forward to contributing to the progress that Ghana is making in turning its economy around.
I have been working on African countries for many years, working closely with African governments on how they can balance their spending against revenues for them to provide social services to their people, especially the most vulnerable.
Africa is a diverse and fascinating region with a young and innovative population that can deliver a great future – this is something that I really appreciate.
In fact, Mozambique was the first country that I worked on in Africa and this was in 2014. I also have some other experiences of working in Ghana. From about 2017, I had the opportunity to work in Ghana for about three years.
It is in this regard that I was also able to visit Accra on several occasions as part of the IMF’s engagements with the Ghanaian authorities and broader public. I am now back to this beautiful country, and I must say that everyone is making me feel at home.
In addition to my country-related work, I have been deeply involved in research, especially in the area of the informal economy, which is relevant to the region, and particularly for Ghana, given the size of the informal sector.
TY: Aside from your responsibilities as the Fund’s Representative, what are some of your social interests?
LM : I’m looking forward to learning more about the history, culture and music of Ghana. I love music – especially fusion between Latin music and jazz – and have heard a lot about the variety of artistes and musical rhythms and the huge influence of African rhythms in Latin American music. I am looking forward to adding some Afrobeats and highlife to my playlists.
I also enjoy watching football. In between work, I was able to watch some of the World Cup games. The passion and energy I saw, especially when the Black Stars played, explains why they
say Ghana is a football nation.
TY : Ghana and the IMF have reached a staff-level agreement on a new programme aimed to restore macroeconomic stability and promote inclusive growth. What does it mean that you
have reached staff-level agreement? How many more steps need to be taken? Are there clear timelines?
LM : Ghana faces unprecedented challenges. The global environment, already affected by a terrible pandemic, and now with the war in Ukraine and tighter global financing conditions along with inflation, are making things more difficult for countries across the world, including Ghana.
Reaching a staff-level agreement means that an understanding on policies and reforms between IMF staff and Ghanaian authorities has been achieved. This is a key milestone in a
process that will conclude with IMF financing, once the IMF Executive Board approves the programme request.
So, there are steps. A key step ahead of the board’s approval is for the IMF to receive assurances from partners and creditors, meaning their commitment, so that the programme is fully financed and debt is brought onto a sustainable path.
TY: Based on the success of the negotiations, how much can Ghana access from the Fund? All things being equal, how long will it take for Ghana to achieve macroeconomic stability?
LM : The financing from the IMF is roughly $3 billion, which will be disbursed in tranches over a three-year period. But the hope is that it will also unlock financial support from other partners.
Implementation of the IMF-supported programme is designed to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, while laying the foundation for stronger and more inclusive growth. Most of the key reforms are expected to be done in the early stages of the planned programme.
TY : Following the debt sustainability analysis and a further diagnosis of the economy, what are some of the policy recommendations available to the Ghanaian authorities?
LM : Overall, the planned programme is aimed at tackling Ghana’s challenges by ensuring the sustainability of public finances while protecting the vulnerable.
For example, on the fiscal front, the strategy relies on early measures to increase revenue and streamline spending.
In turn, the authorities have committed to strengthening social safety nets, including reinforcing the existing targeted cash-transfer
programme to protect the vulnerable and improving the coverage and efficiency of social spending. So it is a balancing act.
The fiscal strategy will also be supported by reforms, such as developing a medium-term plan to generate additional revenue and advancing reforms to bolster tax compliance, which will help create space for growth enhancing measures and social spending by the government.
Efforts will also be made to enhance public expenditure commitment controls, improve fiscal transparency, strengthen the management of public enterprises and tackle
structural challenges in the energy and cocoa sectors. The authorities are also committed to further bolstering governance and accountability.
On the monetary and exchange rate front, reducing inflation, enhancing resilience to external shocks and improving market confidence are important programme priorities. It was agreed that the Bank of Ghana would continue strengthening its monetary policy framework and promote exchange rate flexibility to rebuild external buffers.
As part of the authorities’ debt strategy, a domestic debt exchange has been launched. The authorities are committed to taking the necessary mitigation measures to ensure financial sector stability is preserved.
We will be able to share more details publicly once the programme has been approved by our board, followed by the publication of the related documents.
TY : One of the biggest challenges that has confronted Ghana over the years has been fiscal consolidation. How can the Fund help the fiscal authorities achieve the needed consolidation? And how can we ensure that the poorest people are protected?
How can Ghana continue to develop and invest when it has to be fiscally prudent?
LM : It is important that Ghana pursues policies and reforms to restore macro stability and debt sustainability. The fiscal strategy, through domestic revenue mobilisation and expenditure rationalisation, is a key pillar to reach these objectives. But most importantly, any effort to ensure sustainability of public finances should be pursued while protecting the vulnerable.
We pay special attention and support efforts to strengthen social safety nets, including key programmes to protect the vulnerable and improve the coverage and efficiency of social spending.
It’s an important balancing act. We’re hopeful — there’s no reason not to be – and l look forward to working with Ghana on its quest to pursue policies to achieve durable and inclusive growth.
Source:peacefmonline.com
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South African roadway fissures as a result of the Johannesburg explosion

One of Johannesburg’s busiest roadways has been extensively damaged as a result of a suspected explosion from an underground gas pipeline.
Videos show portions of the road collapsing and automobiles flipping upside down.
According to authorities, one person was murdered and several were injured.
At the moment of the detonation, some witnesses described feeling the earth shake and then hearing a huge bang.
Featured
Users are saying goodbye to Twitter in favour of Mark Zuckerberg’s Threads
The initial success of Threads, Meta’s Twitter competitor, bodes well for Mark Zuckerberg.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed the app had 10 million users seven hours after it launched on Wednesday.
Zuckerberg returned to Twitter for the first time in a decade, tweeting a Threads-related meme. On Threads, the tech CEO has also been taking subtle jabs at Twitter, stating on Wednesday that he was aiming to make it a “friendly place” and that users should “focus on kindness.”
“Threads,” “Meta,” and “Goodbye Twitter” were all hot topics on Elon Musk’s Twitter on Thursday morning.
“Threads,” “Meta,” and “Goodbye Twitter” were all hot topics on Elon Musk’s Twitter on Thursday morning.
After months of turbulence under Musk’s unstable leadership, some tweeters went to the site to say their final goodbyes. Many people posted memes and screenshots of new Threads accounts, pushing their followers to do the same.
One Twitter user wrote: “Instagram Threads…. Goodbye Twitter I found a better app.”
—Naku (@nakuwtf) July 5, 2023
“Goodbye twitter and hello threads,” another wrote, “for the love of God bye Elon.”
However, not everyone on Twitter is thrilled with the new service. Twitter users have mocked Threads’ design while vowing to return to Twitter.
One user posted, “not threads users gaslighting themselves saying it’s better than twitter maybe it can get better but for now it’s a whole mess.”
—Onkar_ (@Onkar_ok127) July 6, 2023
Another Twitter user shared a video of crowds, along with the caption: “Everyone running back to twitter after trying Threads App for 5 min.. #ThreadsApp”
Source: africa.businessinsider.com
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Possible cocaine discovery at the White House has prompted evacuation

On Sunday night, a white substance that prompted an emergency evacuation at the White House tested positive for cocaine.
The drug was discovered during a regular search at the guarded building, according to the US Secret Service.
The Washington Post originally reported the preliminary positive test, citing fire and law enforcement officials.
President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David when the drug was discovered.
The White House complex was shuttered as a precaution at about 20:45 local time (01:45 BST) on Sunday when Secret Service personnel discovered the white powder “inside a work area” of the West Wing, according to a statement from Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi.
Mr Guglielmi stated that the fire brigade was soon contacted and that the chemical was determined to be “non-hazardous.”
He would not confirm the preliminary test findings but did say the item had been submitted for additional testing and that an inquiry was underway, including how the drug got into the White House.
According to CBS News, the material was discovered in a storage facility in a cabinet commonly used by White House personnel and guests to keep mobile phones, according to a senior law enforcement source.
Two law enforcement officials and a recording of a radio transmission from Sunday verified the drug tested positive for cocaine shortly after it was discovered, according to CBS.
According to the US Narcotic Enforcement Administration, cocaine is a Schedule II narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act, which means it has a high potential for abuse.
The West Wing is a huge, multi-level section of the White House that houses the president’s offices, including the Oval Office and the Situation Room.
It also contains the vice president’s office, the White House chief of staff, the press secretary, and hundreds of other staff members who have access.
SOURCE: BBC
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