No worker lay-offs under IMF programme – Bawumia

The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has given assurance that government will not lay-off workers under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme although it has committed itself to completing the programme.

According to him, the issue of worker lay-offs has not been brought to the table during government’s discussions with the IMF mission.

Speaking at a Town Hall Meeting organised by the Multimedia Group Limited in Accra, Monday, Dr Bawumia noted that government would push against any such arrangements should it be raised by the IMF.

“We have inherited the IMF programme and it is a programme that we are quite committed to completing. There are a number of things we are going to have to re-look. We are not going to do any worker layoffs. I believe that if you in fact do a rationalisation you will end up probably needing more workers in many of our places. And this issue has not come up in our discussions. We would have pushed back if this issue comes up. We are not going to go ahead with a lay-off of workers.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta has disclosed that the government is committed to ending its agreement with the IMF in April 2018.

In so doing, he said, government would consider alternatives in addressing deficits and maintain a sound economy for businesses to thrive.