Sierra Leone Telegraph: 28 October 2019:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week concluded its fourth review of the program of economic policies and reforms supported by its three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement with the Guinean authorities, amid prolonged civil unrest in the country. (Photo above: Guinean President Alpha Conde).
Rioting took place early this month in the country’s capital – Conakry, as thousands of people took to the streets in protest at rising economic hardship and corruption.
At the conclusion of the discussions, Ms. Albertin, IMF mission chief for Guinea, made the following statement:
“The Guinean authorities and IMF staff have reached a staff-level agreement on the fourth review of the program of economic policies and reforms supported by a three-year ECF arrangement. The ECF arrangement aims at fostering high and broad-based growth and reduce poverty while preserving macroeconomic stability.
“Performance under the ECF-supported program against end-June 2019 targets was satisfactory and program-supported reforms are advancing.
“Real growth was at 6 percent in 2018 and strong economic performance is expected to continue in 2019, supported by buoyant mining activity. Headline inflation slowed to 9.4 percent in August 2019.
“The basic fiscal balance recorded a surplus of 1.2 percent of GDP at the end-June. Gross international reserves strengthened to 3.7 months of import coverage.
“Mobilizing additional tax revenues and gradually reducing electricity subsidies is pivotal to create fiscal space for scaling-up growth-supporting public investment. In parallel, strengthening public investment management will ensure investment returns are captured and foster efficiency and transparency.
“Stepping-up public spending in social safety nets is pivotal to reduce poverty, protect the most vulnerable and foster inclusion. A prudent borrowing strategy will preserve debt sustainability.
“Further building external buffers will strengthen Guinea’s resilience against shocks. Moving towards greater exchange rate flexibility will support reserve accumulation.
“To this end, competition in the foreign exchange market was strengthened and a rule-based intervention strategy for the central bank is being finalized.
“Maintaining a prudent monetary policy will be important to moderate inflation. Continuing to limit the central bank’s lending to the government will be key to contain inflationary pressures. A more active liquidity management will help achieve monetary objectives.
“Advancing reforms to improve governance and the business climate is key to support the private sector development and broad-based growth. Continuing to strengthen the anti-corruption framework and the AML/CFT regime is important.”
Following discussions between the Guinean authorities and IMF staff in Conakry, both sides reached a staff-level agreement on the fourth review of the program of economic policies and reforms, which is supported by the IMF’s three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board in December 2019.
“Wisdom is the Principal thing with all your getting get Understanding!” Those timeless words of King Solomon,also known to the Muslims as the Prophet Suleiman,can be considered to be perhaps the greatest piece of advice that has ever been given to mankind. When will African leaders become wise,and learn not to shackle,and strangle themselves with stringent,high interest loans from the IMF? Get wisdom,Solomon says.
Gentlemen learn to be creative,practical,and ingenuous. Cultivate in yourselves the useful,and profitable habit of cutting your cloth according to your size. Quit the ceaseless borrowing that never gets you anywhere,but stuck deeper,and deeper into financial holes. Now lets listen to what your generous benefactors,the IMF have to say:(lol) “Further building External buffers will strengthen Guinea’s resilience against shocks” ( lmao) Those are almost the exact,same words they tell inmates on death row awaiting execution in the United States.
Here’s what Prison officials will say to relatives of those inmates minutes away from execution,by electrocution,as they chain,and shackle them ruthlessly into their seats; “We are bracing,and strengthening them to boost,and speed up the process against shocks,that may cause prolonged suffering,and death. Sounds totally like the IMF doesn’t it? If you watch,and observe their tactics,and listen carefully to their deceptive rhetoric you will know,that your Countries are already condemned, waiting for their final moments, onward moving,spiralling towards insignificance,oblivion, and obscurity….Rising Sun Will Rise Again.