President Akufo-Addo, on Sunday evening, addressed the nation on measures taken against the spread of coronavirus and update on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.
The president in his speech, stated that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency as directed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This comes after the head of the UN WHO declared “with great hope” an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, stressing that it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat.
According to Akufo-Addo, the compelled closure of airports, schools, and businesses amongst others, caused the Ghanaian economy to reach its current state; defining it as a poor state.
In relation to this, his New Patriotic Party (NPP) led administration was forced to consult the IMF for support in reviving the economy even thou he never desired the programme.
Meanwhile, Akufo-Addo has stressed that protecting the lives of Ghanaians against COVID-19 is the prime cause of the current economic challenges the nation is facing.
“It will be recalled that I said right at the onset of the pandemic that we would do whatever it took to protect the lives of the Ghanaian people………
We know what to do to bring the economy back to life, but what we do not know is how to bring people back to life…Akufo-Addo stressed.”
Again, the president reiterated that his government was keen on protecting the lives of Ghanaians against the pandemic even if it takes the risk of harming the economy.
However, Akufo-Addo has stated that his decision to subscribe to the IMF program was a painful one because his government had intended to end the reckless borrowing inherited from the previous government.
On the successful IMF programme, the president states that the fund approved by the International body is not an immediate end to Ghana’s economic sufferings. But, the successful program only sends a positive message to Ghana’s creditors, trading partners and investors to restore confidence.
Akufo-Addo assured that there will be an improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians eventually.
