President John Mahama on Wednesday met the Presidential Advisory Group on the Economy (PAGE) to review the ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The meeting, the first for the year, also reviewed the implementation of the 2015 Budget and how to consolidate the gains so far made. Opening the meeting, President Mahama thanked the Group for their invaluable advice and support in the last year.

Head of the IMF Negotiation Team, Dr. Kwesi Botchway, who is the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), told the meeting that most of the outstanding issues with the Fund have been concluded.

It is expected, according to him, that the Programme will be realized not later than April 2015 when the IMF Executive Board meets.

The Advisory Group, which includes Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Investment Consultant and Economist Kwame Pianim, former Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa Dr. K. Y. Amoako and Finance Minister Seth Terkper, also discussed extensively the impact of the world market price of crude oil on the Ghanaian economy.

Other discussions were on the Inter-ministerial Committee on Pay Roll with a recommendation that the Action Plan is presented to Cabinet for consideration in the next few days.

The other members of the Group who were present in the meeting are Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Acting Director General of the NDPC, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank Nana Oye Mansa Yeboaa, and Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Kofi Wampah.