This Is Going To Be The Most Painful IMF Programme Ever – Okudzeto Ablakwa

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has slammed the government over the agreement it had with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the $3 billion bailout recently approved.

Ablakwa, in an interview on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana described the people who negotiated the IMF deal on behalf of the people of Ghana as wicked.

He added that the IMF programme, which was approved on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, will bring more hardship on ordinary Ghanaians.

“This is going to be the most painful, the most bitter IMF programme. I asked myself who negotiated this on behalf of Ghanaians? Does the person have a heart? Does the person care about Ghanaians?

“The analysis we have shows that because of this (the IMF) bailout, there are going to be 50 new tax measures… income tax is coming to be progressive.

“There is going to be quarterly tariff adjustment. So, every quarter, electricity tariffs are going to go up, can you believe that, every quarter?” the MP asked.

Also, Ablakwa said that the deal negotiated on behalf of the people of Ghana also includes an additional debt restructuring programme.

He added that public sector employment will also be restricted for the 3 years span of the IMF programme.