President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that the country’s exit from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme will be carried out with dignity and national pride, insisting that Ghana will not leave the arrangement as a beggar or a supplicant.
Speaking at a public engagement, President Mahama stressed that while the IMF programme was necessary to stabilise the economy during a period of severe distress, the ultimate goal is to restore economic independence and confidence. He noted that the programme must serve Ghana’s long-term development interests rather than reduce the country to perpetual dependence on external support.
According to the President, his administration is focused on rebuilding macroeconomic stability, restoring investor confidence and strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation to ensure that Ghana can stand on its own feet once the IMF programme ends. He emphasised that fiscal discipline, transparency and prudent management of public resources remain central to this effort.
President Mahama also dismissed suggestions that engaging the IMF amounts to a loss of sovereignty, explaining that the programme is a temporary measure designed to help the country correct structural weaknesses and reset the economy. He added that Ghana’s engagement with the Fund is being conducted on terms that protect the welfare of citizens and preserve the country’s policy space.
“We will exit this programme with our heads held high,” he said, adding that Ghana’s recovery must be people-centred, with growth translating into jobs, improved public services and better living standards for ordinary citizens.
The President called on Ghanaians to remain patient and supportive as the reforms take root, assuring them that the sacrifices being made will yield positive results. He reiterated his commitment to leading an economy that is resilient, self-reliant and capable of withstanding future shocks without constant recourse to external bailouts.
President Mahama concluded by stating that Ghana’s journey through the IMF programme should be seen not as a mark of failure, but as a turning point toward a more disciplined and sustainable economic future.
