MPC to hold 112th press conference today; $3bn IMF bailout to feature strongly

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) will be holding its 112th Press conference today Monday, May 22.

This will be the first MPC press conference after the approval of the $3billion external credit facility for Ghana by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Issues about the bailout are expected to feature strongly in the address to be delivered by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr Ernest Addison.

The Ministry of Finance confirmed that the first tranche of $600million of the $ 3 billion bailout has been received by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

The cash, according to the Ministry, is to help restore macroeconomic stability, sustain the country’s debts and lay a strong foundation for inclusive growth.

“The first tranche of $600million of Ghana’s low interest of $3billion Extended Credit Facility has been received to help restore macroeconomic stability, sustain the country’s debts and lay a strong foundation for inclusive growth,” the Ministry tweeted on Saturday, May 20.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta earlier stated that the second tranche was expected to be received in the next 6 months.

Speaking at the IMF-Ghana joint press conference held in Washington on Thursday, May 18, he said “There is a 600million Dollars release, I am sure we can get it by tomorrow, and in the next 6 months it is going to be another 600million dollars and then we have about five different tranches in the periods forward to get to the $3billion.”

The IMF Mission Chief for Ghana Stéphane Roudet indicated that the $3 billion bailout would result in reforms in the energy and cocoa sectors.

Also, he said the programme would result in reforms to encourage private sector investments and also build international reserves.

“There will be reforms in the energy and cocoa sectors,” he said during a joint Ghana -IMF press conference.

“It will be restoring macroeconomic stability, for higher and more inclusive growth. It has reforms that will make the economy more resilient and likely to withstand shock in the future,” he added.

The Board of the Fund unanimously approved Ghana’s bailout on Wednesday, May 17 at a meeting in Washington after Ghana secured the Paris Club financing assurance on Friday, May 12.