President Akufo Addo has stated that the Covid-19 menace, which threatened humanity with extinction has come to pass.
“This too has passed,” he told Ghanaians yesterday adding that “the emergency is over and we can safely lift any of those oppressive restrictions we have had to endure.”
President Akufo Addo was forced to impose several weeks of lock down in Ghana, saying at the time that whilst we had knowledge on how to revive the economy, the same was not the case with reviving human life.
President Akufo Addo gave his final address to the nation on the measures in the COVID-19 fight in the evening on Sunday, May 28. He expressed his gratitude to all who supported the cause during the trying time.
The update comes as the COVID-19 health declaration form for international travelers to Ghana has been suspended.
President Akufo-Addo officially reiterated the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration that COVID-19 no longer represents a global health emergency.
The World Health Organization first declared the public health emergency of international concern in January 2020.
Ghana had its initial cases in March of that year, triggering a number of health measures characterized by vaccinations, testing, and other drastic measures to stem the spread of the pandemic.
This included periodic updates by President Akufo-Addo on the progress of the fight against the virus.
Three years down the line, the pandemic is over.
Running To IMF For Bailout Was A Painful Decision – Nana Addo
Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has once again justified his decision to run to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout saying it was a painful but necessary decision.
In a speech to the nation on Sunday, May 28, 2023, President Akufo-Addo said that the decision was made after careful consideration of all options.
He said that the IMF deal was necessary to help Ghana’s economy recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
“It was a painful decision for me to take, because going to the IMF was not part of the economic transformation agenda I had been pursuing, especially as my government had gone the extra mile to bring to a successful end the IMF program we inherited from the previous government,” Akufo-Addo said.
The IMF deal is expected to provide Ghana with $3 billion in financial assistance within 36 months.
The deal will also require Ghana to implement a number of economic reforms, such as reducing government spending and other fiscal measures.
Akufo-Addo said that the government is committed to implementing the reforms required by the IMF deal.
IMF deal won’t bring immediate end to Ghana’s economic woes
Despite the hope in the IMF agreement, President Akufo-Addo said the program will not spell the immediate end of the difficulties that Ghana is facing
“Access to the IMF facility will not spell the immediate end of the difficulties we are in presently. But the fact that we’ve been able to negotiate such a deal sends a positive message to our creditors and investors,” Akufo-Addo said during his address on May 28, 2023.
