Some economists are warning Ghana against any move to abandon its program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

One of such is a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Lord Mensah who says any such move is likely to reduce investor confidence in the country.
Speaking to Citi Business News, Dr. Lord Mensah cautioned government over going off the IMF programme as it can lead to the collapse of the Ghanaian economy.

“There is no IMF programme that comes in a soft form, every IMF programme or rescue comes in a form of pain or sacrifice.

You went to the IMF in such a way that you are not financially disciplined and you want the IMF to come and help you, so that in the end, your economy would be in a good footing and ensure that you stay financially disciplined. Yet suddenly, you turn around that you cannot hold onto those conditions that they are giving you,”
“Do you know the signals you are sending out there as far as any investor who has interest in this economy is concerned?” he queried.

Dr. Lord Mensah further stated that “when you go to the Eurobond market to raise money to support your economy, they are given in such a way that the external or the internal investor sees that the IMF has monitored this country [Ghana] to place it in such a way that it will spend prudently with all the financial resources that comes into the country’s fold.”

Source:citifmonline.com