Finance Minister Hosts IMF Mission as Ghana Begins Final Programme Review

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has welcomed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission team to Accra for the Sixth Review of Ghana’s programme under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF).

The mission, led by Dr Ruben Atoyan, commenced meetings in Accra today as part of the assessment of Ghana’s progress under the IMF-supported programme.

Reflecting on Ghana’s economic journey, the Minister described the partnership with the Fund as “long, demanding, but ultimately transformative,” noting the country’s recovery from the 2022 crisis.

“It is, in every material sense, a success,” Dr Forson stated.

“Together, we have stabilised the economy. We have restored credibility. We have given renewed hope to the Ghanaian people.”

On behalf of the President and the people of Ghana, he expressed “deep appreciation” to the IMF team, attributing the progress to “discipline and difficult decisions taken in the national interest.”

However, the Minister cautioned that “progress does not permit complacency,” warning that risks remain.

“The most pressing of these is youth unemployment,” he said. “If we do not create the conditions for the private sector to absorb our young people, the pressure on the state to provide jobs will become unsustainable.”

Dr Forson stressed that the path forward must be deliberate.

“We must ensure that stability translates into more investment, more jobs, and more opportunities for all. Because beyond the numbers, that is the true test of this recovery.”

He disclosed that before the conclusion of the mission, the government would take “critical decisions on the next phase of Ghana’s economic reform agenda.”

“This reform will target policy credibility, enforce reform discipline, and boost investor confidence,” he added.

According to the Minister, the IMF team described the moment as a “significant milestone” and acknowledged the “major successes achieved under the programme,” crediting the strong efforts of the Government.

“This is where we are. With stability restored. With credibility regained. And with a renewed responsibility to convert these gains into lasting prosperity,” Dr Forson said.

“We will keep the momentum.”

The ECF programme was approved for Ghana in 2023 as part of efforts to restore macroeconomic stability following the economic downturn in 2022.

Story by Hajara Fuseini

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