Akufo-Addo will address the nation as chair of IMF task force – Oppong-Nkrumah.
Ghanaians are experiencing economic hardship.
The government agrees to participate in an IMF program.
The opposition criticizes the government's decision to seek IMF assistance.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will address the nation on recent economic developments, according to Information Minister Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah.
The main issue will be the government's decision on July 1, 2022, to approach the International Monetary Fund, IMF, for a program in the midst of an economic downturn.
Oppong-Nkrumah stated on the July 3, 2022 edition of Joy News' 'The Probe' show that the president took ultimate responsibility for the decision to go to the IMF.
When asked if calls for the resignation of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta could be considered, he said, "We are in a democracy, you will have such calls, what are the key value drivers." Despite difficulties, he helped to rally the economy from 2017 to 2019."
"Contrary to his position, the boss says this is what I want my administration to do and he put together a task force that is working on it for it to happen," he said.
"There may be those who argue that he should fire the Finance Minister.... Until proven otherwise, history shows that presidents have a lot of faith in their finance ministers."
"The task force is chaired by the President, but the Finance Minister is an integral part, he has ordered him to engage, and so he will be in the chair," he said of the negotiation team set to meet with the IMF later this week.
When asked if the President would address the nation, a government spokesman said yes, but no specific dates were given.
Contrary to its previous position of not returning to the Fund, the government decided to begin formal engagements with the IMF on July 1, 2022.
Since then, public opinion has been divided.
If the engagement is successful, it will be the seventeenth time the country has sought economic assistance from the Bretton Woods Institution.
The government has consistently cited the twin crises of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war as reasons for changing its stance on the IMF.
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