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The CPP’s Shadow Minister for Political Affairs, Ekow Duncan has said the party will constructively engage the IMF and World Bank when it comes into power, by accessing credits which it will pump directly into the productive sectors of the economy.
Speaking on Multi TV’s current affairs program PM EXPRESS, Mr. Duncan said the CPP will not rely on the international finance agencies but rather "we will seek out the IMF for what it is worth".
Ekow Duncan who is also eyeing the CPP’s General Secretary position at its upcoming national congress in Takoradi explained that the IMF only gives loans for infrastructural development and not for direct investment.
According to him, the CPP will “seek new engagement, new definitions and look at the capital markets of Europe and everywhere for investments that promote the development of this country making it less dependent and an internally sustained economy".
He stressed that the country’s economic woes can easily be linked to the lack of a manufacturing sector and the country’s continuous reliance on imports for its every need.
"There is no reason why this country should not produce ethanol and sugar and these are hundred percent imports" he argued.
Citing some of the milk products on the market made from Soy beans, Mr. Duncan said it was such a pity that Ghana had to import such products especially when its raw material – soya bean – can easily be grown anywhere in the country adding that "so what a CPP government for example will do, will invite whoever is importing vita milk and say government will support you to produce the soya and process [it], and have the milk".
He also gave the assurance that a CPP government will support indigenous businesses to enable them manufacture their products locally to enable Ghana perform better in terms of trade and to eliminate balance of payment deficits.
The World Bank and IMF policies, for a number of years, have been pushing the government of Ghana to increase consumer fees for water and lease the water system to transnational water corporations.
Irrespective of this, Ghana is still reliant on IMF loans, a situation the CPP hopes to change when they come to power in 2012
Egypt in June 2011 dropped plans to take IMF loans following cuts in budget deficit because of the terms of conditions. It is the latest country to have declined IMF loans after Greece rejected a bail out in 2010.
Story Adwoa Dansowaa Awuku/ Multi TV/ Ghana
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