Ghana’s Economy Can Tackle COVID-19 Says Information Minister

• Ghana’s information minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has said the country’s robust economy will finance the government’s fight against Coronavirus.
• His statement comes after some Ghanaians challenged a policy announced by President Akufo-Addo when addressing Ghanaians for the eighth time on steps to curb coronavirus in Ghana.
• He also stated that the building of facilities for the 6 new regions would begin with coordinated dispatch to this new plan. In the country’s three belts a further 3 infectious disease centres are being built.

Mr Nkrumah said at a press briefing that the initiatives implemented by Ghana to counter the COVID-19 pandemic would be successful due to the robust economy established by the Akufo-Addo-led government since it took office in 2017.

His statement comes after some Ghanaians challenged a policy announced by President Akufo-Addo when addressing Ghanaians for the eighth time on steps to curb coronavirus in Ghana

The president announced a policy target to create 88 district hospitals in districts without government facilities.

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He also stated that the building of facilities for the 6 new regions would begin with coordinated dispatch to this new plan. In the country’s three belts a further 3 infectious disease centres are being built.

However, after addressing the nation, many have questioned whether the government can fund the completion of these hospitals and whether or not the economy of the country is adequately robust to support the COVID-19 initiatives including the construction of these 88 hospitals.

But Mr Nkrumah stated that “our current economic positioning is a major reason for which we are able to marshal the resources to execute a good number of the interventions we are introducing today. And moving forward, the state of our economy will be key in our ability to introduce the necessary interventions to win the various battles in this war.”

“It makes sense why some may question whether or not Ghana can afford all the interventions the President has outlined in the past about 8weeks of the Covid-19 response program. This question is justified because looking at our recent economic position, and the gains made recently as a nation, there is the genuine fear that we may be unable to afford the interventions or may end up overstretched if indeed we push through to execute them all,” he explained.

He added that “between Jan 2017 and now, however, Ghana has made major strides in correcting the precarious economic conditions it found itself in. Our Fiscal position has improved and our Macro position has significantly improved. The combined effect of improved fiscal position and improved macro position is what enables us to afford the interventions which are being introduced as part of the COVID-19 response program. We have significantly improved national revenues, trimmed our deficit, and yielded a resilient macro position against which we can finance the intervention programs.”