Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has urged a rethinking of Africa’s relationship with international financial institutions, stressing the need for partnerships that support reform and self-reliance rather than dependency.
Speaking at a high-level meeting with Heads of International Monetary Fund (IMF) country and regional offices in Africa, the Vice President reflected on Ghana’s economic journey amid global concerns over debt and development finance.
“Ghana’s reality today is different from what it was not too long ago,” she noted, citing improvements in key macroeconomic indicators including 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 emphasized that Ghana’s progress is rooted in reforms that are supported—but not dictated—by the IMF, and sustained by the country’s own resolve to make difficult but necessary choices. “We enter this new phase with cautious optimism and determination,” she said.
Acknowledging the role of international financial institutions, Vice President Opoku-Agyemang also highlighted Africa’s growing capacity to chart its own course. “Recent global and regional shifts increasingly show that Africa is ready to do more on her own, even as we continue to pursue mutually beneficial partnerships,” she stated.
She reaffirmed President John Mahama’s stance that Ghana’s engagement with the IMF must evolve beyond emergency support. “Africa continues to face structural challenges, including high borrowing costs. But we also have great opportunities, including the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and a growing resolve to pursue self-reliance, supported by coordinated and fair international cooperation.”
The Vice President’s remarks come at a time when many African economies are navigating post-pandemic recovery, climate finance needs, and the pressures of global economic shifts. Her call for reform-driven, equitable partnerships signals Ghana’s intent to lead with resilience and vision.
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