Ghana's economic growth must be reform-led, not aid-driven – Veep

Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has said Ghana’s economic reality has changed significantly in recent times, citing improvements in key macroeconomic indicators, including single-digit inflation, a more stable cedi, and stronger real GDP growth.

Speaking at a meeting with Heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) country and regional offices in Africa on January 19, 2026, the Vice President noted that the gains being recorded are not merely statistical but are being felt across the economy.

“Ghana's reality today is different from what it was not too long ago. Our macroeconomic situation has improved, with single-digit inflation, a more stable cedi, and stronger real GDP growth. These gains are not abstract; they are felt in real ways across the economy,” she said.

According to her, Ghana is entering a new phase with cautious optimism and determination, anchored in reforms that are supported, but not dictated, by the IMF, and sustained by the country’s willingness to make difficult but necessary policy choices.

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Professor Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged the continued relevance of international financial institutions on the African continent but stressed that emerging global and regional shifts increasingly show that Africa is ready to do more for itself, even as it maintains mutually beneficial partnerships.

She also reaffirmed President John Dramani Mahama’s position that Ghana’s relationship with the IMF must evolve beyond emergency support.

“Ghana’s relationship with the IMF must evolve. Emergency support alone is not enough. Africa continues to face structural challenges, including high borrowing costs,” she said.

The Vice President pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key opportunity for growth and self-reliance, stressing the need for coordinated and fair international cooperation to support Africa’s long-term development ambitions.





MA