25th September 2023 10:48:51 AM
2 mins readThe Minority in Parliament has stated that they intend to summon the Administrator of the Scholarship Secretariat before Parliament in the upcoming days. Their concern revolves around the outstanding bursaries owed to the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) for the past two years.
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The caucus firmly asserts that despite the government's allocation of a budget amounting to GH¢223 million for the scholarship secretariat, funds have not been disbursed for the payment of GRASAG bursaries.During the handover ceremony at the University of Ghana, Legon, the Minority Chief Whip, Governs Agbodza, articulated their commitment to utilizing all available avenues to ensure government compliance in disbursing the funds.
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Agbodza emphasized, "The Minority will, in the coming days, employ the appropriate legal procedures to compel the administrator of the Scholarship Secretariat to account for the two-year arrears in GRASAG bursaries. These funds have already been allocated, and we can only pursue this course of action within the bounds of the law.
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"Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has sounded a cautionary note regarding Ghana's substantial indebtedness to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), highlighting its potential impact on the country's attractiveness as an investment destination.
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Ghana currently holds the unenviable position of being the most indebted nation to the IMF under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, with an outstanding loan of 1,689 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). This amounts to nearly 10% of the total outstanding loans within the Trust.
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Isaac Adongo, the Ranking Member on the Finance Committee of Parliament, expressed concerns over Ghana's elevated debt levels and inadequate foreign reserves, stating that these factors are impeding the country's ability to attract foreign investment. He noted, "When you assess our creditworthiness in terms of our net international reserves for covering these portfolios, Ghana presents a risky proposition, a fact even the IMF acknowledges.
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"Adongo also cautioned that Ghana might not qualify for another IMF program unless it improves its fiscal position, remarking, "Given Ghana's historical track record of fulfilling its obligations to the IMF, these statistics alone indicate that Ghana may not meet the criteria for another IMF program."Ghana's escalating debt levels have raised significant apprehension among investors.
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The nation's public debt-to-GDP ratio presently surpasses 80%, and the government is grappling with a substantial budget deficit. Consequently, the government must borrow extensively to sustain its expenditure, making it challenging to alleviate the debt burden.Furthermore, Ghana's foreign reserves are currently at a precarious level, covering less than one month of imports.
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This vulnerability exposes the country to external shocks, such as surges in commodity prices or depreciation of the cedi's value.The government is presently engaged in negotiations for a new program with the IMF, which is anticipated to include measures aimed at curbing the budget deficit, stabilizing the economy, and fostering growth.
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Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether the government will succeed in implementing the requisite reforms to meet the qualifications for the program.
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