IMF Board To Review Ghana’s Economic Programme

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board is scheduled to meet on December 2, 2024, to review Ghana’s Third Programme.

Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam confirmed that this evaluation could potentially unlock $360 million in funding for the Bank of Ghana, aimed at bolstering the nation’s budget and balance of payments.

The upcoming board meeting follows a recent staff-level agreement reached between the IMF and the Ghanaian government, concluding an assessment of the nation’s financial data up to June 2024. If approved, the funds would increase the total IMF disbursements to Ghana since its recent agreement to $1.92 billion.

Dr. Amin Adam, speaking at a press conference in Washington, D.C., during the annual IMF/World Bank meetings, emphasized that Ghana had met all necessary benchmarks for receiving additional IMF support.

Economy Strength

The finance minister highlighted the critical impact of the anticipated IMF disbursement on Ghana’s financial stability. An additional $300 million from the World Bank is also expected to supplement the IMF funds, further strengthening Ghana’s reserves.

According to Dr. Amin Adam, these inflows will play a crucial role in stabilizing the Ghanaian cedi as the country moves into the new year.

Dr. Amin Adam reassured the public, particularly businesses, that foreign exchange demands would be met, alleviating concerns over the availability of foreign currency.

“There is no need for businesses to panic regarding the availability of foreign exchange to meet their demands,” he stated.

By reinforcing the Bank of Ghana’s reserves, the government aims to curb currency volatility and inflationary pressures that have impacted the cedi in recent years.

The finance minister also underscored the significance of the IMF disbursement beyond immediate financial support. He noted that this development signals the government’s commitment to economic reforms, which could play a crucial role in attracting investor confidence.

Investor Confidence

Dr. Amin Adam provided insights into investor sentiment based on discussions held during the IMF/World Bank meetings.

He reported a favourable response from investors, many of whom have recognized Ghana’s recent economic reforms as a positive step. Some investors have even expressed interest in re-entering Ghana’s domestic bond market.

“We are still reviewing those requests,” Dr. Amin Adam noted, indicating a cautious approach toward approving new investments. By strengthening investor confidence, the government hopes to boost local capital markets and support economic growth.

The potential re-entry of foreign capital into the domestic bond market would be a significant vote of confidence in the nation’s financial stability, potentially leading to a more robust and resilient economy.

Addressing public concerns over economic management, Dr Amin Adam defended the government’s performance over the past four years, citing noticeable improvements in growth, exchange rate stability, and inflation control.

“Ghana’s economy has strongly recovered compared to two years ago. We have performed exceptionally well in managing the economy” he stated.

These comments align with the government’s efforts to address challenges that have affected Ghana’s economy, including inflationary pressures and currency volatility. With the additional funds from the IMF and World Bank, the government aims to stabilize the economy further, enhancing conditions for sustained growth and development.

IMF’s Revised Growth

The IMF recently revised Ghana’s 2024 growth projection upward from 3% to 4%, a development welcomed by Dr. Amin Adam. The revised forecast, according to the IMF, reflects data up to mid-April 2024 and anticipates improvements by year-end.

Dr. Amin Adam expressed confidence that Ghana would likely exceed the revised 4% target due to recent investments that are starting to bear fruit. However, the government intends to retain its original 3% growth target in the 2024 budget, reflecting a cautious approach despite the optimistic outlook.

“We believe Ghana will outperform the revised 4 per cent target based on recent investments that are starting to yield results,” Dr. Amin Adam stated.