The Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper, has debunked assertions that President John Mahama is losing confidence in him, hence the decision to appoint veteran finance guru, Dr Kwesi Botchwey, to lead the government’s side to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance.
The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has fallen on the Bretton Wood Institution for a a programme to salvage its ailing economy. Talks with the IMF team begin Tuesday in Ghana.
President Mahama has authorised former finance minister Dr Botchwey to be at the forefront on the government’s side to negotiate for a fair deal to revive the economy.
Incumbent finance minister Terkper said he does not feel sidelined by the process but sees it “as team effort.”
Terkper in a breakfast meeting with Citi FM’s Benard Avle and Alhassan Suhuyini of Radio Gold, Monday, said he respects the decision of the president, who is acting based on the advice of an “advisory committee and the economic management team” headed by vice president Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.
He said appointing Dr Botchwey to head the government’s team is “nothing new”, since he also played a similar role during talks for the MDG Compact Two. “Did he diminish the role of the finance minister; no! There is a precedent to this strategy and at the end of the day, it is the finance minister who will sign,” Terkper said.
“I see this more as a team effort and I need my technical team in the discussion”, the finance minister added.
He said the IMF is not coming to Ghana to dictate to the government but to “review our home-grown policies.”
