Ghana’s request for technical help to combat corruption has been received by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The action taken by Ghana is in accordance with its obligations under the $3 billion IMF plan, under which Ghana is anticipated to receive a second tranche of $600 million in November of this year.
The $3 billion IMF program Ghana has agreed to is anticipated to address a number of issues, including the nation’s present economic problems.
The initiative is anticipated to fight corruption in Ghana and increase transparency.
The Ghanaian government agreed to a number of obligations as part of the program to fight corruption and increase openness in daily operations.
Accordingly, Citi News has learned that the government has asked the IMF for technical help to carry out a governance corruption diagnostic evaluation.
The National Anti-Corruption Action Plan will continue to be updated using this as feedback.
under passing a new Conduct of Public Officers Act, the government is required under the IMF program to rectify flaws in the current asset reporting system for public officials.
Abebe Aemro Selassie, director of the IMF’s African Department, provided the most recent information on Ghana’s efforts to date during a press conference on the regional economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa and Morocco at the IMF-World Bank meetings in Marrakech, Morocco.
“On the governance diagnostic report, I think the request has been made [but] I’m not sure where we are in terms of being able to provide that, but as soon as we have the resources, we will do that. And it’s just a matter of time I believe.”
Meanwhile, the IMF says it will provide all that is needed to the creditors, so Ghana can get the second tranche of IMF cash and move the programme forward.
“Action is also needed from the creditor side and I have to tell you that, you know, whereas it took I think something like 9 months or more for Zambia to get the official creditor committee to be created, in Ghana’s case it was fairly rapid. So that’s what allowed us to go to the board and get the programme approved. And we’re very hopeful that the ongoing discussions among official creditors will also expeditiously allow us to conclude the upcoming review. Again the most recent Mission you know reached an agreement with the government on policies that are needed to tackle the most recent issues and also put in place an important budget for next year. So Ghana has done its fair share, and it’s for creditors to take steps, and we’re not going to be asking the government to do more adjustments because creditors haven’t asked either, so you know we will provide all the information necessary, so creditors can move to allow us to go to the board as soon as possible,” Abebe Aemro Selassie added.
