body-container-line-1
28.09.2018 Business & Finance

Ghana’s Growth Prospects Strong - IMF

By CitiNewsRoom
Ghanas Growth Prospects Strong - IMF
28.09.2018 LISTEN

A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which undertook the seventh review of Ghana's performance with regards to the IMF’s extended credit facility says the country's growth prospects remain strong, but expressed worry over revenue shortfalls.

The team was in Accra from September 17-27, 2018, and held various discussions focusing on recent developments, fiscal and monetary policies, and how the extended credit facility to Ghana is faring.

The team, which was led by Annalisa Fedelino according to a statement from the IMF, met with Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta; Deputy Ministers' Charles Adu Boahen; Kwaku Kwarteng; and Abena Osei Asare; Governor Addison of the BoG as well as First and Second Deputy Governors Maxwell Opoku-Afari and Elsie Addo Awadzi; and other senior officials.

The statement on IMF's website complained about targets for the extended facility PROGRAM, saying it has been adversely affected largely by external and domestic factors which included: “volatile environment for emerging and frontiers markets,” thus exerting “pressure on the currency resulting in cedi depreciation.”

“Available fiscal data through end-July point to much expenditure front-loading on goods and services and lower-than-programmed revenue, especially VAT and import duty,” the statement noted.

Although they acknowledged the B rating of Ghana’s economic credentials by S&P, the IMF team advised that for Ghana to achieve the December fiscal targets, it would have to strengthen “both expenditure discipline and tax compliance, beyond measures adopted in the mid-year budget review.”

The team also urged government to address the persistent revenue shortfall in the 2019 budget which will be presented to Parliament in November 2018.

“The authorities remain strongly committed to the program targets. The 2019 budget would need to address persistent revenue shortfalls and start tackling decisively the issue of exemptions. Continued progress on fiscal structural reforms—particularly on public financial management and oversight over state-owned enterprises—is instrumental to anchor expenditure control and lasting fiscal discipline,” the statement added.

About IMF extended credit facility
Ghana entered into an extended credit facility with the IMF for economic assistance in 2015.

The deal came with an initial funding support of 918 million dollars to be disbursed under eight tranches.

Under the agreement, government was expected to implement some policy initiatives such as freeze of public sector employment, reduction of budget deficit, and zero financing of the budget deficit by the Bank of Ghana.

The assistance was however extended by a year.
Below is the full statement from the IMF:
IMF Staff Completes Seventh ECF Review Visit to Ghana

End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF's Executive Board.

  • Achieving end-December fiscal targets hinges on strengthening both expenditure discipline and tax compliance, beyond measures adopted in the mid-year budget review.
  • Continued prudence on the monetary policy easing cycle is welcome and inflation is expected to remain within the target bands until the end of the year.
  • The government continues to step up efforts to address financial sector vulnerabilities.

An IMF team led by Annalisa Fedelino, visited Accra from September 17-27, 2018, to conduct the seventh review of Ghana's economic program supported by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). The discussions focused on recent developments, fiscal and monetary policies, and program implementation.

At the end of the mission, Ms. Fedelino released the following statement:

“Growth prospects remain strong, supported by robust oil and cocoa production. Inflation has remained in single-digits. S&P upgraded Ghana’s ratings from B- to B with a stable outlook in September 2018. The government continues to step up efforts to address financial sector vulnerabilities, with the recent purchase and assumption of five banks. However, Ghana has been affected by the volatile environment for emerging and frontiers markets, which has exerted pressure on the currency resulting in cedi depreciation.

“Program performance has been affected by external and domestic factors. Available fiscal data through end-July point to much expenditure front-loading on goods and services and lower-than-programmed revenue, especially VAT and import duty. On this basis, achieving end-December fiscal targets hinges on strengthening both expenditure discipline and tax compliance, beyond measures adopted in the mid-year budget review. The authorities remain strongly committed to the program targets. The 2019 budget would need to address persistent revenue shortfalls and start tackling decisively the issue of exemptions. Continued progress on fiscal structural reforms—particularly on public financial management and oversight over state-owned enterprises—is instrumental to anchor expenditure control and lasting fiscal discipline. Access to new financing arrangements and longer-term debt instruments would help fund Ghana's pressing development and infrastructure needs; such arrangements would need to be implemented transparently, deliver value for money, and be consistent with debt sustainability considerations.

“Continued prudence on the monetary policy easing cycle is welcome and inflation is expected to remain within the target bands until the end of the year. Recent exchange rate pressures reinforce the call for fiscal discipline. Going forward, improved communication and coordination would help foster deeper and more liquid FX market.

“Recent bank resolutions underscore the authorities' commitment to financial stability and will help improve medium-term prospects for economic growth. While costly for Ghanaians taxpayers, they are nonetheless necessary to address long-standing weaknesses and create a resilient financial system, improved access to credit and financial inclusion. The overall financial system is adequately capitalized, but weaknesses in some institutions—including high levels of nonperforming loans—can adversely impact financial stability, hamper credit growth and investment, and create contingent liabilities for the government. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is introducing reform measures to address remaining financial sector weaknesses with the view of improving the availability and affordability of credit to the private sector.

“The mission met with Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia; Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta; Deputy Ministers' Charles Adu Boahen; Kwaku Kwarteng; and Abena Osei Asare; Governor Addison of the BoG as well as First and Second Deputy Governors Maxwell Opoku-Afari and Elsie Addo Awadzi; and other senior officials. The IMF team is grateful to the authorities for constructive discussions and collaboration.

Discussions will continue in Washington DC, including on the impact of the rebased GDP to be soon released; and on the 2019 budget and reforms in the pipeline.”

IMF Communications Department
MEDIA RELATIONS
PRESS OFFICER: LUCIE MBOTO FOUDA

body-container-line