There is increasing conversation about the future of Ghana after it emerged that the country will be seeking an IMF bailout after all. Months before this government had denied and refuted all arguments and claims that IMF was the future for Ghana. Well, now it is clear that the country’s economy is in a mess and needs immediate intervention.
On Joy News’ Saturday political programme over the weekend, Newsfile, Gabby Otchere Darko, a big wig of the ruling NPP and Felix Ofosu Kwakye, a former Deputy Communications Minister under the erstwhile John Mahama administration clashed and discussed Ghana’s IMF future. According to Felix, the JDM government made available 10.6 billion cedis to pay loans by the time they left office. Gabby countered this by saying the amount was rather 18 billion cedis.
Well Manasseh Azure’s The Fourth Estate did a fact check and concluded that both panelists erred with Gabby’s assertion deemed as completely false while Felix’s was misleading. The checks showed that when Seth Terkper read the budget of 2016, there were expectations that 10.5 billion will be needed but during the 2017 mid-year budget reading by Ofori Atta, it was mentioned that by 2016 the amount had risen to 11.5 billion as compared to Felix’s assertion. Either Felix was not privy to this or chose to mislead Ghanaians with the expectations and not actual figures.
Interestingly, Gabby’s defense was completely wrong. Gabby while trying to defend his government and condem that of the John Mahama led made some interesting rebuttals. According to the Fourth Estate, there was no mention of his 18 billion in the 2016 budget or 2017 mid-year budget. Gabby put up a fighting spirit on set but it has come to light that his defense was completely wrong.
The Fourth Estate details that Gabby had no evidence to prove his assertion that the NDC used 18 billion to cater for loans. Gabby has been one of the biggest defenders of the government. Indeed he seems to be the real information minister and blows cover on certain policies before government even speaks on it.
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