In a bid to rally support as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, commenced his Greater Accra delegates tour, he made a bold statement, suggesting that Ghana would not have resorted to seeking assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) if his ideas had been given due attention and implemented in the past. Kyerematen, a prominent figure within the NPP, highlighted the potential of the President’s Special Initiatives (PSI), which he claimed could have been a game changer for the nation if fully embraced by Ghanaians.
Reflecting on his past contributions to the country, Kyerematen expressed a sense of regret that his ideas were not heeded during his tenure as a senior minister under former President John Agyekum Kufuor. He emphasized the significance of the PSI, a program introduced during Kufuor’s administration, and asserted that Ghana’s reliance on IMF loans could have been avoided if his proposals had been given a chance.
“The amount of work I have done for this country, sometimes I even feel ashamed talking about it,” Kyerematen proclaimed during his address in the Ablekuma constituency in Accra. “In President Kufuor’s era, I was one of the senior ministers in Kufuor’s administration. I brought PSI (The President’s Special Initiatives), and if Ghanaians had listened to me, today Ghana wouldn’t have gone to the IMF.”
The PSI, an economic initiative aimed at stimulating growth and development in specific sectors, was intended to leverage Ghana’s resources and create employment opportunities. Although the program was introduced years ago, Kyerematen believes that its potential remains untapped and could have significantly contributed to the country’s economic stability, potentially negating the need for the recent IMF loan.
Ghana’s economic and financial challenges have been a longstanding issue, leading the government to seek assistance from the IMF. Recently, the IMF approved a $3 billion loan for Ghana, with China playing a crucial role in debt restructuring, which is deemed vital to resolving the country’s economic struggles.
Kyerematen’s remarks have sparked a debate among political analysts and party supporters, with some praising his vision and advocating for a closer examination of his proposed initiatives. Others, however, question the feasibility and practicality of implementing such ideas, highlighting the complexity of Ghana’s economic landscape and the multifaceted nature of its challenges.
As the NPP flagbearer hopeful continues his campaign, his message resonates with Ghanaians who yearn for innovative solutions to the country’s economic woes. Supporters of Kyerematen assert that his track record and experience make him a viable candidate to steer Ghana towards economic prosperity, while skeptics urge a thorough assessment of the broader implications and potential risks associated with his proposed policies.
While it remains to be seen how Kyerematen’s claims and proposals will impact the NPP’s flagbearer selection process and ultimately Ghana’s political landscape, his ideas have ignited discussions that could shape the country’s economic agenda in the coming years. As the nation braces itself for a new era of leadership, the question of whether Ghana would have avoided IMF intervention by embracing Kyerematen’s ideas looms large, emphasizing the need for innovative and effective solutions to ensure a prosperous future for all Ghanaians.