Fact check: Did government share different macroeconomic data with Ghanaians and IMF

YEN.com.gh has seen some disparities in macroeconomic data the government of Ghana presented to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently and what it shared with Ghanaians.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the GOG requested for some financial support from the IMF.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) thus issued at statement on April 13, 2020, approving the disbursement of US$1 billion credit facility to the government of Ghana to be used to address the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the economy.

READ ALSO: 4 critical information from government on Ghana’s COVID-19 status

Accompanying the statement issued by the IMF was a report containing data on the macro-economic situation of Ghana, from the Finance Ministry of the West Africa country.

The data contained in the IMF statement revealed that the information presented to the IMF by the government of Ghana is different from what it has been sharing with Ghanaians through budget statements.

YEN.com.gh’s further checks revealed that the data submitted to the IMF by the authorities and what has been previously shared with Ghanaians and published by the Ministry of Finance are different.

Based on the figures, we conclude that indeed, the data presented by the government to the IMF are different from those in budget statements.

READ ALSO: Minister rejects shoddy work by contractor on Konongo-Praado road

The disparities between the data published in the statement of the IMF and data from the Budget Statements of 2019 and 2020 were obvious.

The disparities are mainly with the following 2018 and 2019 indicators:

*Fiscal Deficit (in per cent of GDP)

*Primary Balance

*Current Account Balance

*Gross International Reserves

Below is a table comparing the data on the above-mentioned indicators which are contained in page 24, paragraph 100, of the 2019 Budget Statement and page 18, point 71, of the 2020 Budget Statement against the data from the IMF statement (contained in page 3).

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that about 100 workers are expected to exit the Multimedia Group by the end of May 2020.

As reported earlier, Naa Ashorkor Mensah Doku is just one of the 100 people whom the company had laid off.

These people are expected to say their final goodbye to the company by the close of May 2020.

"If you want to die, please die alone" – Health Minister to uncooperative Ghanaians | #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Government set to import Madagascar’s herbal cure to treat Ghanaians

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh