Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister has announced that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Mission will commence Ghana’s first review of the ongoing US$3 billion loan-support programme from 25th September, 2023.
Mr Ofori-Atta stated that the review is crucial for the release of the second tranche of $600 million of the $3bn loan to the government for its Post COVID-19 Programme for Economic Growth (PC-PEG). “The Fund will be here from September 25 through to the beginning of October 2023,” the Minister said, adding, “Hopefully, we’ll get the staff agreement and go to the Board in November of this year [2023].”
The PC-PEG is aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability and laying the foundation for stronger and more inclusive growth amidst an economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and internal structural challenges.
Ghana’s performance assessment of the loan-support programme would be done using six quantitative performance criteria, three indicative targets and other structural benchmarks. “There are a lot of conditions to be met, but we’re working assiduously to make sure that we meet that, and we’ve gone a long way to be ready for the Mission,” Mr Ofori-Atta said.
Work Done Ahead of the Review
On the work done ahead of the review, Mr Ofori-Atta noted that the government has completed the domestic debt restructuring, including the cocoa bills and domestic dollar bonds, and some pension fund holders.
From those domestic debt exchange programmes, the government secured $7.7 billion from cocoa bills, $740m from the US-denominated bonds, and $26.9bn, which Mr Ofori-Atta said had provided some fiscal space “to do other things.”
Ofori-Atta expressed confidence in reaching a Staff Level Agreement that would enable the government to go to the IMF Board in November, and subsequent approval for the second tranche in December 2023.
In addition to debt restructuring, Finance Minister said the government is critical with the ongoing fiscal consolidation and domestic revenue enhancement measures, and social interventions to bring relief to Ghanaians.
That notwithstanding, the finance minister said the participation of the private sector, would be essential in accelerating the country’s recovery and put the economy on a path of sustainable growth.
“We’ve proven that as a country, we’re moving in the right direction, and prepared to make some difficult decisions, but the missing link is our engagement with the private sector that will take us to a sustainable means even as government continues to ensure that all our citizens benefit from the economic recovery.”
Ofori-Atta
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) on behalf of the government received the first tranche of $600m of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) of the $3bn from the IMF on May 17, 2023, as a balance of payment support.
Dr Ernest Addison, the Governor of BoG said it boosted Ghana’s gross international reserves to $5.7 billion, leading to a reduction in the inflationary and exchange rate pressures.
The program will help Ghana overcome immediate policy and financing challenges, including through its catalytic effect in mobilizing external financing from development partners and providing a framework for the successful completion of the ongoing debt restructuring.
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