Gabby Calls For National Debate On Whether Ghana Should Seek IMF Bailout Or Pass E-Levy

• Gabby Otchere-Darko has called for a national debate about the country's serious economic challenges.
• The President's confidante wants a public debate to determine whether Ghana should go for an IMF bail or pass the E-Levy or none or both.
• He said the country started the year with severe setbacks that have affected key government programmes.

A confidante of President Nana Akufo-Addo, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has called for a national debate to decide whether Ghana should go to the IMF for a bailout or pass the unpopular E-Levy.

In a tweet on Thursday, the founder of pro-governing New Patriotic Party think tank, Danquah Institute, said Ghana is faced with tough economic decisions because this year started on a bad note for the country.

He mentioned, for instance, that the year started without the “usual $3 billion injection of Eurobond cash.”

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He said this has affected some of government’s flagship policies like the GhanaCARES which is hinged on the contentious E-Levy bill that may not be passed by Parliament.

Multiple analyses on Ghana’s economy over the last couple of weeks paint a bleak picture.

Country Director for the World Bank in Ghana, Pierre Laporte, said recently that the economic situation was dire.

According to him, available data points to a very serious economic situation and has urged the Government of Ghana to be transparent with citizens.

Mr Laporte made the comments during a public lecture organised by the OneGhana Movement on Monday, March 7, 2022.

Already, Ghana sits at the bottom of a 15-currency ranking after depreciating by 7.6% to the U.S. dollar.

This makes the local currency the worst-performing on the continent.

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GPRTU Announces Possible Transport Fare Increase Next Monday Over GH¢10 Per Litre Fuel Price

The last fuel price hikes that took petrol price to over GH¢10 per litre has compelled the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to consider another transport fare increase by Monday, March 21, 2022.

The notice by the GPRTU spokesperson, Abbas Ibrahim Moro, on Thursday, March 17, 2022 comes less than a month after transport fares were increased.

He told 3 News that nobody sets up a business to make losses so the fuel price increase leaves the GPRTU, the largest and most influential driver union in Ghana, with no choice than to also increase fares to make up for increased cost of doing business.

Source: YEN.com.gh