The new International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Chief for Ghana, Stephane Roudet, has arrived in the country.

Mr. Roudet whose appointment took effect from September 1, 2022, has already paid a visit to the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta and his team.

He was joined by the First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Maxwell Opoku-Afari.

Mr. Roudet’s arrival is coming a day after the Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgiva, reiterated her outfit’s commitment to reaching agreement with the Ghana Government by the end of this year for an economic programme.

The new IMF Mission Chief for Ghana, Stéphane Roudet, has paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Finance.

Mr Roudet is in the country following his appointment as the new IMF Mission Chief for Ghana, effective September 1, 2022. pic.twitter.com/L4CqOCwW4H

— Ministry of Finance, Ghana (@MoF_Ghana) September 6, 2022

Madam Georgiva said “I’m very determined for us to indeed reaching agreement with Ghana by the end of this year [2022]. We started very constructive discussions already. And to the people of Ghana, like everybody on this planet you have been hurt by exogenous shocks; first the pandemic, then Russian/Ukraine war”.

“And that we need to realise that it’s not because of bad policies in the country, but because of these combinations of shocks. Therefore, we have to support Ghana because you are a member, you are a strong country, you have fantastic people”, she stressed.

Mr Roudet’s visit lays the ground work for a full mission towards the end of September 2022.

He will also be calling on heads of key government institutions, as the nation prepares to enter an IMF programme this year.

Mr. Roudet reiterated his commitment and that of his team to expedite negotiations towards supporting the government of Ghana’s economic programme.

This is expected to boost investor confidence.

Mr. Roudet is replacing Carlo Sdralevich, who will be taking on another assignment in the IMF’s Finance Department.