Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) have topped the Twitter trends following President Akufo-Addo’s direction to Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to begin formal engagements with the International Monetary Fund, for economic support.
A statement signed by the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and dated July 1, 2022, said there had already been a conversation between the IMF boss, Kristalina Georgieva and President Akufo-Addo, conveying the government’s decision to engage the Fund.
Right after the news went viral, social media has been buzzing over the matter as the decision has taken many Ghanaians by surprise.
This is because before approaching IMF, the government, on numerous occasions, insisted that a bailout from the Fund is not in its plans to restore fiscal stability in the country.
Several tweeps cannot fathom why the government has resorted to that option when the E-levy was supposed to be the remedy for the economic woes.
The problem, according to some users, is not about going to the IMF as they believe that the crisis is global.
Some people are not happy that the government “forced e-levy down the throats” of the public only to seek an IMF bailout.
Others are questioning why the government has changed its decision from no IMF support to an IMF bailout.
ALSO READ:
Check out some reactions below:
Well, to IMF Ghana goes! Better late than never. May the engagements be productive & be in the best interest of Ghana. What then happens to the unproductive E-levy? @MoF_Ghana @GabbyDarko @moigovgh @konkrumah @MBawumia @NAkufoAddo @IEAGhana @ImaniAfr @benkoku @Joy997FM @Joy997FM pic.twitter.com/ow8C9JlA6r
— Africa Development Watch (@AfricaDew) July 1, 2022
How can you cancel tollbooth for e-levy ?
— Beno SarkCess (@BenopaOnyx1) July 1, 2022
I mean, how can you be this confused? ??????
They lied to us that E-Levy will save us from this hardship we are facing. We begged them to have mercy on us but nope ?
— Ayishatu ? #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 (@ayishatu_) July 1, 2022
Here we go. IMF hellooooooooooo pic.twitter.com/7x7Co30WHD
E-levy … Really ??
— Ama ? ?? (@Ama_mansah1) July 1, 2022
IMF … Really ??
Ken Ofori… Really
Free SHS… Really
OMG Ghana abre3. pic.twitter.com/vj9OkHIMhT
Me as a Ghanaian right now realizing government is going to the IMF after I have paid E-levy … pic.twitter.com/pA7fIzBV03
— Deezy ♚ (@oh_deezy) July 1, 2022
Mr. President @NAkufoAddo, When humility and pragmatism vanishes from the dealings of leadership, the ordinary Ghanaian suffers. Why wait till now, against all sound advice? And where is the messiah called E-Levy? CC: Minister Ken Ofori Atta pic.twitter.com/6BWilO70Hi
— Sammy Obeng (@SammyObeng) July 1, 2022
So we will cancel E-levy? Because they implemented e-levy so that we don’t go to IMF. https://t.co/gb0gUepND4
— SITSO (@OfficialSitso) July 1, 2022
Now that we’re going to the IMF, it’s only fair that we cancel the E-levy. After all, Ken Ofori-Atta told us avoiding the IMF was the main reason why the E-levy had to be passed.
— Emmanuel Ayamga (@EmmanuelAyamga_) July 1, 2022
You deceive citizens that E-levy was the substitute of IMF intervention. Few weeks later, you run on top speed to the latter. It’s no coincidence that this is happening on a #RepublicDay. This is a clear indication, we’ve lost it all. President @NAkufoAddo, how do you even sleep?
— Brooks???™ (@TheManBrooks) July 1, 2022
Whatever we do we are not going to IMF, we are a proud nation, we have the resources- Ken Ofori Atta pic.twitter.com/5kLEj7Iugm
— B. by Sekumba (@Bridget_Otoo) July 1, 2022
Government is finally going to the IMF for economic intervention after Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta and Nana Addo’s mismanagement.
— Mr. Ray ?? (@TheEdemTamekloe) July 1, 2022
E-levy, like we have always maintained, was never going to be the remedy. Some common sense is finally prevailing. Exposed! pic.twitter.com/3ZirDUR3b4
It’s OFFICIAL!
— Ghana Post-Elections (@ghanaelections) July 1, 2022
Ghana returns to the IMF as President authorizes Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to commence formal engagements with the fund. pic.twitter.com/UMX9YPUNUK
So who is to blame for this new development, Ukraine/Russia or COVID! Why is this letter signed by @konkrumah and not @MBawumia the head of the now infamous “Solid Team” or the arrowhead of this Government’s own abysmal economic performance: Hon Ken Ofori Atta. pic.twitter.com/PKw6ow7STh
— Joyce Bawah Mogtari (@joyce_bawah) July 1, 2022
There is always a tweet…
— Marreka Ⓜ️ (@Ebenezer_Peegah) July 1, 2022
As President Nana Addo has directed the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta to engage with the IMF, here is a tweet of candidate Akufo-Addo criticising an “oil rich country’s” government for going to the International Monetary Fund in 2015. pic.twitter.com/e8pVzj3h0P
“We are not going to the IMF, whatever we do, we are not” – Ken Ofori Atta speaking in a town hall meeting on the e-levy in Tamale in February this year.
— Kafui Dey (@KafuiDey) July 1, 2022
What changed between the time the finance Minister said this and now ?pic.twitter.com/y27876c613
“We are not going to the IMF, whatever we do, we are not” – Ken Ofori Atta , February 2022. pic.twitter.com/8pphN9NeJC
— Nuong Faalong (@nuongfaalong) July 1, 2022