Business News of 2026-10-15
Ghana confident of beating IMF's 5.7% growth forecast – Dr Ato Forson
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has expressed confidence that Ghana’s economy will grow beyond the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) revised forecast of 5.7% for 2026, citing the government’s fiscal discipline and ongoing economic reforms.
This follows the IMF’s October 13, 2026, decision to raise its growth forecast for Ghana from 4.6% to 5.7%, an increase of 1.1 percentage points, reflecting an improved outlook for the economy.
Reacting to the revised projection, Dr Forson said the government was confident that economic growth would surpass the Fund’s expectations.
“The IMF has upgraded Ghana’s 2026 growth forecast from 4.6% to 5.7%. We are confident we will exceed that projection,” he told the media.
The Finance Minister made the remarks on October 15, 2026, following a meeting with the Director of the IMF’s African Department, Zeine Zeidane, on the sidelines of the ongoing IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.
According to the Finance Minister, the government remains committed to maintaining fiscal credibility, strengthening discipline in public financial management and implementing reforms to sustain the country’s economic recovery.
“In Bangkok, I met with the IMF’s African Department Director, Zeine Zeidane, and reaffirmed our commitment to the fiscal credibility, discipline and bold reforms powering Ghana’s economic turnaround,” Dr Ato Forson added.
The revised growth forecast represents an improvement in the IMF’s assessment of Ghana’s economic prospects compared with its earlier projection in April.
However, Dr Forson’s confidence that the economy will outperform the new forecast suggests that the government expects economic activity to remain stronger than the IMF currently anticipates.
The government’s ability to sustain the recovery will depend on maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling public expenditure and supporting productive sectors of the economy.
The IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings, being held in Bangkok from October 12 to 18, 2026, bring together finance ministers, central bank governors, development partners and other policymakers to discuss global economic developments and strategies for growth.
Ghana’s participation in the meetings also provides an opportunity for the government to engage with international financial institutions and investors on the country’s economic outlook, reform programme and efforts to strengthen investor confidence.
Story by Mawuli Ahorlumegah, reporting from the 2026 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Thailand, Bangkok
