Civil society leaders held a farewell lunch honouring the outgoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) Resident Representative to Ghana, Dr. Leandro Medina, in Accra.

Organised by the Economic Governance Platform (EGP), the event recognised Dr. Medina’s vital role in fostering transparent engagement between the IMF and Ghana’s civil society throughout the process of Ghana’s current IMF-supported Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme, approved in May 2023.

At the farewell lunch, Professor Godfred A. Bokpin of the University of Ghana described Dr. Medina as tolerant of divergent views.

“We have, at times, disagreed openly with the IMF, but you never closed the door on engagement. These interactions have sharpened our thinking and practice. You are leaving at a time when Ghana’s macroeconomic indicators are beginning to improve, a testament to the hard work and collaboration we have seen under your leadership,” he remarked.

Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, Executive Secretary of GACC, also highlighted Dr. Medina’s inclusive approach, which she described as consistent with that of his predecessors.

“You sustained and built upon the solid foundation laid by your predecessor, Mr. Albert Touna Mama, ensuring that the momentum of civil society engagement with the IMF was not only maintained but also strengthened.”

The inclusion of Ghanaian civic voices in policy discussions was demonstrated when CSOs were the first stakeholders the IMF Managing Director, Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, met during her first visit to Ghana last year.

Moreover, Mr. AbdulKarim Mohammed, the Coordinator of the EGP, commended the IMF representative for his openness and willingness to engage.

“As CSOs, we have enjoyed a very cordial relationship with you. Your commitment to include our perspectives in IMF-related discussions is deeply appreciated,” he said.

Mr. Benjamin Boakye, Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), praised Dr. Medina for consistently prioritising civil society engagement during each ECF review.

“Before every review mission, you ensured there was space for civil society dialogue, and you made deliberate efforts to connect us with other members and staff of the Fund. This approach strengthened our ability to contribute meaningfully to policy discussions,” he stated.

The outgoing IMF representative expressed gratitude for the partnership with Ghana’s civil society. “Thank you all for this kind gesture. It has been a pleasure working with you. I believe effective collaboration does not require agreement on every issue. Even in our differences, we found common ground to advance Ghana’s economic progress. I remain open to continuing these engagements, even as I move on.”

The lunch not only celebrated a successful working relationship but also reaffirmed the importance of ongoing dialogue between international financial institutions and local stakeholders.

The farewell lunch was attended by prominent figures from Ghana’s civil society and academia, including Dr. Kojo Asante, Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana); Mr. Benjamin Boakye, Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP); Mrs. Mary Awelana Addah, Executive Director of Transparency International Ghana (TI Ghana).

Others were Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC); Dr. Steve Manteaw, Chairman of the Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas (CSPOG). Mr. AbdulKarim Mohammed and Mr. Ebenezer Otu Okley, Coordinator and Programmes Officer of the EGP, respectively, facilitated the event.