IMF Discusses Gambia’s Economic Sickness

JammehA delegation of IMF officials, representing the Fund’s Executive. Board, recently concluded a nearly two-week visit of the Article IV Consultation with Gambian authorities. Article IV gives the Fund the authority and obligation to be periodically monitoring, reviewing and advising client states, implementing agreed projects and programs agreed with the IMF. The previous such consultation visit was done last June, a month after Gambia’s mercurial leader unilaterally announced an appreciation of the Gambian currency. Many had thought the IMF would be able to talk some sense into the Gambian leader to understand the basic economic fact that currency rates are determined by market forces and cannot be determined by legislation, much less presidential decrees.

It is five months since the May 4th 2015 since the announcement of the so-called Jammeh-rates and the abandoning the flexible currency rates adopted by the First Republic.  The announcement also came with threats of arrests and confiscation of forex cash belonging to those failing to comply with the unrealistic Jammeh-rates.

According to a Kaironews correspondent, “there are currently two parallel rates being operated in The Gambia. Banks, forex dealers both in the official and unofficial worlds of financial transactions in The Gambia, jump from one rate to the other, depending on which is profitable for them. They will take the Jammeh rate to get my dollar but will not sell it to me at that corresponding rate if I should ask for it.”

From the tone used in this following press release, the IMF expressed their alarmed frustration with the Jammeh regime’s violations of the terms of the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) disbursement and a Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) agreed in April 2015, less than a month before abandoning the flexible rate system which the IMF is never done calling “a policy that has served Gambia well.” To emphasize the IMF position, the press release is attached with a table of economic statistics to graphically demonstrate the very poor health of the Gambian economy caused by the state authority’s “persistent policy slippages in recent years.”

IMF Executive Board Concludes 2015 Article IV Consultation with The Gambia

Press Release No. 15/430
September 21, 2015

The Gambia has experienced large balance of payments and fiscal imbalances, caused by persistent policy slippages in recent years and financial difficulties in public enterprises. This was exacerbated by sizable exogenous shocks from the impact of the regional Ebola outbreak on tourism and the delayed summer rains in 2014. The authorities embarked on an economic program based on a strong 2015 budget and structural reforms, and efforts to   secure donor support. The Fund supported the authorities’ efforts through a Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) disbursement in early April 2015 and a Staff-Monitored Program (SMP).

However, major policy slippages have occurred since the RCF disbursement, pushing the SMP off track and worsening the outlook considerably especially since budget support from donors will not be forthcoming. In early May 2015, the President’s office issued a directive imposing an exchange rate overvalued by more than 20 percent compared to the prevailing market rates, which the Fund staff assessed to be broadly in equilibrium. The fiscal position too has deteriorated significantly since mid-April, while inflationary pressures and T-bill rates have increased, reflecting the inconsistent macroeconomic policies. In the absence of corrective policies, The Gambia’s external viability and fiscal sustainability could be at serious risk.

Executive Board Assessment2

Executive Directors noted that a cycle of exogenous shocks followed by policy slippages had led to weaker real GDP growth in The Gambia than in other countries of the region. Directors regretted that recent policy slippages have worsened an already difficult macroeconomic situation and are threatening The Gambia’s near- and medium-term growth prospects. Accordingly, they called for strong corrective measures to address the growing macroeconomic imbalances and bring policies back on track to achieve the objectives of the authorities’ economic program monitored by Fund staff. Directors agreed that bold action on a variety of fronts, including targeted structural reforms, is urgently needed to restore policy credibility, rebuild policy buffers, re-engage development partners and achieve The Gambia’s poverty alleviation goals.

Directors stressed that an ambitious and sustained fiscal adjustment is necessary to bring the fiscal situation under control. They encouraged the authorities to implement the measures in the current budget and to identify soon additional measures for a deep budget restructuring beginning in 2016. Such an adjustment will create space for development spending while fostering macroeconomic stability and social progress over the medium term. Directors also highlighted the need to articulate a strategy to overhaul public enterprises in the energy and telecommunication sectors to stem their demand on budget resources.

Directors welcomed the Central Bank of The Gambia’s continued efforts to shore up financial stability. They commended steps underway to improve bank supervision and crisis management capacity. Directors observed that the flexible exchange rate regime had served The Gambia well, and agreed that the exchange directive currently in force to limit exchange rate flexibility should be rescinded immediately.

Directors welcomed The Gambia’s significant social gains over the past years but noted that there remains ample room to enhance inclusive growth and competitiveness. They encouraged the authorities to step up agricultural reforms and improve infrastructure in energy and transport to enhance economic diversification and resilience to shocks.

Kaironews will later provide a copy and comments on the economic statistic it says is indicative of the current economic crises caused by the authorities in Banjul.

Ends

 

3 Comments

  1. Murderous yaya killer Jammeh is itself engaging, & major player in the forex money business illegally in Gambia, without paying any taxes to the State as legally required, like all other business…

    Evil yaya DEVIL Jammeh’s selfish personal profligacy in excessive wastage of State funds, ranging from syndola parties, endless festive celebrations, wrestling contests, image polishing money dishes to artists, etc etc etc; the greedy proliferation of the kanilai DEVIL’s very high maintenance concubine siphoning Gambian meagre resources away, etc etc etc…

    Gambia “economic policy slippage” projected “worst than neighbours”, even where Ebola endemic occurred, when no Ebola was ever registered in Gambia, why blame Ebola for Gambian economic wreck…???

    How can the “2014 rains” be to blame for Gambia economic woe & mismanagement, when every able Gambian must turn farmhands on the Murderous kanilai Killer DEVIL jammeh’s countrywide personal farms of illegitimate illegally acquired properties, confiscated & forceful occupied entities; proceeds of which goes to Its EVILNESS king yaya kanilai D first…??

    Now it’s certified to be “known” to both local & foreign Experts that “all funds aren’t getting to those it’s meant for”; yet there are some Experts parties collusion in the Donor system, ensuring requests, approvals for retaining & maintaining their livelihoods in process; even at expenses of the majority peasantry Gambian sufferings…?

    What Gambians got to work out is to get rid of the Murderous kanilai Worm rummaging our dilapidated economy; EVIL yaya DEVIL Jammeh will ALWAYS fiddle & tamper with any aspects of State, for selfish aggrandizement, when & how it suits & feels;

    Logically, genuine Gambians will want for the funds to be required, acquired, & disbursement attached to ensuring intended targets, good governance amongst them, & also countering EVIL kanilai Syndicate arm banditry assault on State coffers, grants & resources, inclusive; that’s our only remedy…

  2. deyda haidara

    Jammeh has entrapped himself in a vicious theft cycle in which the only way out for him is either wait for the mob to storm the state house or continue sharing the little crumbs left in the economy with his defence soldiers and operatives until death meets him.
    Econimic statistics in the Gambia is all bogus, cooked up and of no measure to attest the reality. It is a waste of time and energy to analyse, predict or try to fix the economy under Jammeh’s rule. The regime has TOO MUCH to hide from 21 years of misrule, theft and mis-management of the economy.
    The only OPTION left for Gambians and the world is to do away with Jammeh.
    Jammeh is the PROBLEM and cannot be part of the SOLUTION. period!

  3. The IMF is the debt collector of the International money lenders, so every analysis they make goes to support the method of collecting the debts. IMF knows how badly managed the Gambian economy is, but it would not stop lending the Gambia government as long as the country has accepted to scrape the backs of the Gambians to settle its debts as agreed.
    The IMF said their agreement with the Gambia is for the Gambia to reduce expenditure and increase tax collection. The objective is for the Government to collect sufficient taxes to be able to pay the required amount of debt for every year. Once the government meets the target, the IMF will again approve disbursement in the name of fixing another economic inbalance.
    It is also agreed that the market alone should be allowed to regulate the exchange rate of the Dalasi but the State House would come up with a directive to fix the exchange rate at say not beyond D40 to a Dollar, and not only that but to devalue the Dalasi by about 20% percent without informing the populace. The IMF would groan and cry like everyone else but would do nothing only to complain and say it should not be done. There is nothing the IMF does not know about the Gambian economy and how its being run on a day to day basis because the IMF is represented at the Central Bank of the Gambia.
    So the IMF is a business institution and they are simply interested in their business interest and as long as that interest is served they will continue to make business with the government on behalf of the Gambian people. As Bayaw said if Gambians want their economy to be run efficiently and prudently, they need to look for an alternative to replace the APRC regime like all countries do. The IMF will never do that for them. The problem is not the IMF really, the problem is mainly the Gambian people who should take the bull by the horn and to a lesser extent the Gambia government that is mismanaging the economy without conscience.

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