President-elect, John Mahama, has reaffirmed that his administration will prioritise macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability as key pillars of governance.

In an interview with Paul Ndiho of VOA on Saturday, 14th December, Mahama underscored the critical role of economic health in shaping all sectors of national development, including education, agriculture, and sports. He noted that economic recovery would be the central focus of his government’s agenda.

“The economy will be our primary concern because it impacts every other area. A struggling economy affects education, agriculture, sports, and every sector of the country. Stabilising the economy will therefore be our immediate priority,” Mahama stated.

Highlighting Ghana’s current challenges, Mahama identified macroeconomic instability and unsustainable debt levels as twin issues requiring urgent attention.

Mr Mahama explained that, unlike previous engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which solely addressed macroeconomic concerns, the current situation necessitates tackling both simultaneously.

“In the past, our engagements with the IMF were mainly for macroeconomic stabilisation, but now we face dual challenges, which makes this situation unique,” he said.

The President-elect also revealed plans to collaborate with the IMF to ensure a cohesive implementation of the existing programme.

“We have requested discussions with the IMF, as we were not involved in negotiating this programme. We must align our approaches to its implementation. Let me be clear—we are not jettisoning the programme."

"However, we are exploring opportunities to tweak certain aspects within the programme framework. Once we reach an agreement, we will continue with the programme until its conclusion,” he assured.