President of the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education (CPE), Franklin Cudjoe, has advised government not to be in a rush to exit the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme as the previous administration did.
He has suggested that the programme be extended by at least, 18 months, to ensure Ghana is truly rooted in the commitments it is making to be fiscally resilient.
The IMANI Africa President asserts Ghana lacks the requisite discipline to be fiscally prudent on its own, urging the government not to rush out of the facility to open the floodgates for haphazard expenditure.
His comments come on the back of the World Bank’s praise for Ghana’s economic turnaround, lauding the Finance Minister’s stewardship in attaining the feat.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Mr. Cudjoe attributed Ghana’s current economic trajectory to both the Finance Minister’s ingenuity and proper guidance by the Bretton Woods Institution.
“Good show. This is what adult supervision by the IMF and a serious student can achieve together. So, l suggest we do not rush out of the IMF programme as the last government did.
“At least we need to extend the IMF deal by a year and half to be sure the commitments we are making to be fiscally prudent will be anchored well in deeds rather than words.
“I don’t think we would be disciplined enough on our own. There are too many folks waiting for us to exit the IMF programme so we can spend again like Arabian princes,” Mr. Cudjoe posted.
Ghana earned the praise of the World Bank at a high-level meeting in Washington, where the regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana, lauded the country’s performance over the past year, describing the turnaround as impressive and signaling the Bank’s readiness to deepen support.
The World Bank officials were particularly emphatic in their praise, with Seynabou Sakho, Regional Practice Director for Prosperity (Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment), describing the Minister’s fiscal reforms as exemplary, noting that his work on restructuring has gained recognition beyond Ghana.
Trina Hague, the Regional Practice Director for People (Education, Health, and Social Protection), also acknowledged Ghana’s resilience and the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations despite external pressures.
On his part, Dr. Forson, speaking on behalf of the government, noted that 2025 marked a decisive turning point after a difficult period, with Ghana now firmly on the path to debt sustainability and transitioning toward growth and development.
He highlighted key achievements underpinning the recovery, including a sharp decline in inflation from 23 per cent to 3.2 per cent, improved currency stability, and sustained investment in social programmes.
Dr. Forson outlined Ghana’s next phase following the restoration of economic stability, indicating the government is going to focus on agriculture, energy, education and infrastructure, as the country moves to consolidate gains and accelerate inclusive growth, with continued backing from the World Bank.
