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Ghana’s $100mil covid-19 preparedness money, IMF acknowledges request

March 25, 2020

The International Monetary Fund,(IMF) has confirmed receipt of Ghana’s request for financial assistance to help it address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, told Parliament
that government will tap into the Rapid Credit Facility set up by the IMF and
the World Bank as part of measures to bridge the expected shortfall in revenue
for this year.

This was in line with President Akuffo-Addo’s directive to Finance Minister to make available the cedi equivalent of $100 million to enhance Ghana’s Coronavirus preparedness and response plan.

The money is to fund the expansion of infrastructure, provision
of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), coordination activities and health
declaration forms and public education.

Before this directive, the total budget for preparedness
with regard to the novel coronavirus stood at GHS35 million.

IMF Responses

A press release published on the IMF website, indicated that
the Director of the African Department at the IMF, Abebe Selassie, has received
the request and that the Fund is working hard to evaluate and forward it for
the Executive Board to consider as soon as possible.

“Last week, the IMF received Ghana’s request for a
disbursement under the Rapid Credit Facility to help the country address the
economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are working hard to evaluate the authorities’ request
and bring it forward for Executive Board consideration as soon as possible,”
the statement read.

Impact of covid-19 on Ghana’s revenues

Ghana has recorded 53 cases with two deaths as at Tuesday,
March 24, 2020.

However, these numbers are expected to rise and already Schools
have been shut down as well as a temporal ban placed on public gatherings and
closure of the country’s airports and borders.

The situation has affected revenue in every facet of the
economy.

Revenue at the Aviation sector has dropped due to
restrictions on in-coming flights, as the country’s bothers have been closed
for two weeks.

Businesses have started complaining about their losses as
general economic activities have slowed down.

The IMF’s Rapid Credit Facility

The IMF’s Rapid Credit Facility provides rapid concessional
financial assistance with limited conditionality to low-income countries facing
an urgent balance of payments need.

It was created under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust
as part of reforms to make the Fund’s financial support more flexible and
better tailored to the diverse needs of low-income countries, including in
times of crisis.

The facility places emphasis on the country’s poverty reduction
and growth objectives, according to the IMF.

Access to facility financing is determined on a case-by-case
basis, taking into account the country’s balance of payments need, the strength
of its macroeconomic policies, capacity to repay the Fund, the amount of
outstanding Fund credit, and the member’s record of past use of Fund credit.

In addition, it also takes into account the size and likely persistence of the shock.

Ghana Talks Business

The post Ghana’s $100mil covid-19 preparedness money, IMF acknowledges request appeared first on Ghana Talks Business.

Ghana Talks Business

Source : African Media Agency (AMA)

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