Former President, John Dramani Mahama says any further delay by the government in the ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will worsen the hardships faced by Ghanaians.

Mr Mahama said the government does not have the luxury of delay any longer.

The former president has thus asked the government to work with urgency to secure a deal with the Bretton Woods Institution.

Distressing! Every passing day makes our economic situation worse. Gov’t must work with greater alacrity to lock in a programme with the Fund in order to create a more predictable economic outlook.

— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) October 4, 2022

According to him, that is the only way the government can create a better economic fortune for the country.

“Distressing! Every passing day makes our economic situation worse. Gov’t must work with greater alacrity to lock in a programme with the Fund in order to create a more predictable economic outlook,” he said in a tweet on Tuesday, October 4.

The government has already commenced a comprehensive debt sustainability analysis with the IMF for a $3 billion support programme.

It has also assured that it will fast-track negotiations with the IMF to ensure key aspects of the programme are reflected in the 2023 budget statement.

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta made this known at a press briefing on Wednesday, September 28. 

“In line with the President’s dialogue with the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, negotiations will be fast-tracked to ensure that key aspects of the programme are reflected in the 2023 Annual Budget Statement in November 2022,” he said. 

However, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee has cast doubt on this assurance.

Cassiel Ato Forson said that is very unlikely.