Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining fiscal discipline and guiding Ghana’s economy without continued reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Speaking in an interview with Joy FM, Mr. Nyarko responded to recent discussions surrounding President John Dramani Mahama’s eight economic pillars, clarifying that the framework is both robust and flexible, with the capacity to incorporate pressing national issues such as corruption.

“I want to assure everyone that the eight points President Mahama outlined can be expanded to address additional priorities, including corruption,” he said. “We’ve already made strong public commitments to fighting corruption, and this hasn’t changed.”

He emphasized that the focus on Public Financial Management (PFM) within the policy pillars is a direct indication of the administration’s anti-corruption drive.

“PFM, by its very nature, reflects our intention to tackle corruption. While people may expect every issue to be explicitly listed, it’s impractical to mention all at once. The key point is that these pillars are not static — they can evolve in response to the needs and concerns of Ghanaians,” Mr. Nyarko noted.

Addressing the country’s relationship with the IMF, the Deputy Minister highlighted the government’s success in turning around initial doubts about its ability to meet the programme’s goals.

“When we took office, many doubted our ability to manage the IMF programme effectively. Key targets like inflation and the primary balance had been missed. But we’ve demonstrated our dedication through consistent and credible implementation,” he said.

Mr. Nyarko concluded by reiterating the government’s goal of sustaining macroeconomic stability independently, emphasizing that sound fiscal management remains a cornerstone of President Mahama’s economic vision.