Finance minister

Parliament Adjourned To January 2 As Finance Minister Fails To Present Mini-Budget

Parliament Adjourned To January 2 As Finance Minister Fails To Present Mini-Budget

Ghana’s Parliament has been adjourned to January 2, 2025, after the Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, failed to present the much-anticipated 2025 Mini-Budget before the close of the current session. The Mini-Budget, a constitutional requirement designed to provide a fiscal outlook for the upcoming year, was expected to address key economic issues, including revenue mobilization, expenditure priorities, and strategies for fiscal consolidation before the next administration takes over. Despite high expectations, the presentation did not occur, prompting Speaker Alban Bagbin to adjourn proceedings. Speaking to the press after the adjournment, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson expressed disappointment over…
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We Need $271.7Bn To Expand Roads – Finance Minister

We Need $271.7Bn To Expand Roads – Finance Minister

The country needs an estimated $271.7 billion to achieve its target of expanding the road network from 78,401km in 2016, to 253,000 km by 2047. The target, which was captured in the Ghana Infrastructure Plan, is also to increase paved roads to 70 per cent while linking urban areas with multi-lane carriageways and constructing long-span bridges across the Volta Lake. The Minister of Finance, Mohammed Amin Adam, who announced this, said the targets translated  into approximately $9 billion annually. Additionally, he said, $1.3 billion would be required annually for road maintenance and improvements. Dr Amin Adam, who was speaking at…
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Ghana Expects Debt Agreement With Bilateral Creditors In May – Finance Minister

Ghana Expects Debt Agreement With Bilateral Creditors In May – Finance Minister

Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Finance Minister, says Ghana will in May 2024 sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its official bilateral creditors as a draft of the agreement is soon to be shared with the country. This MoU is in relation to the restructuring of some US$13 billion external debt to meet IMF’s debt sustainability parameters, with the country reaching an agreement in principle with official creditors in January 2024. “Essentially, we’ve agreed to all that we need to do for the [second review programme] to go to the Board, with the only outstanding issue being the draft of…
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Finance Minister Optimistic About Meeting IMF Conditions For Debt Restructuring Approval

Finance Minister Optimistic About Meeting IMF Conditions For Debt Restructuring Approval

Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam has revealed that the Official Creditor Committee has circulated a preliminary document outlining Ghana’s debt restructuring plan to its members for assessment. Speaking during a press conference at the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC, Dr. Amin Adam disclosed that once the committee finalizes the document and shares it with Ghanaian authorities, an agreement can be reached. The IMF is not requiring a finalized deal from bilateral creditors before proceeding to its board; instead, it seeks consensus on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) wording, which will suffice for the IMF board's consideration. Dr.…
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Ghana’s Low Exposure To Loans From China Has Enhanced Its Debt Restructuring – World Bank

Ghana’s Low Exposure To Loans From China Has Enhanced Its Debt Restructuring – World Bank

Ghana has a relatively lower exposure to loans from China compared to Zambia (36%) and Ethiopia (25%), the World Bank has revealed in its April 2024 Africa Pulse Report. The country accounts for 7.0% of the share of Public and Publicly Guaranteed (PPG) external debt owed to China. According to the World Bank, the lower exposure to multiple creditors has enabled Ghana and other debt-ravaged countries to reach or be close to reaching agreements with their external creditors. “In January 2024, the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) reached an agreement in principle with the Government of Ghana on the terms of…
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Revenue Mobilisation Is My Topmost Priority – Finance Minister

Revenue Mobilisation Is My Topmost Priority – Finance Minister

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has declared revenue mobilisation as his topmost priority for the running of the state. According to him, this has become necessary due to the many expenditure handles in the country’s governance structure. He made the declaration in an interaction with officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority as part of his tour of the port. He therefore charged the tax officials to reverse the shortfall of about 11 percent in the first quarter revenue target. The Minister also had a closed-door meeting with the officers and management of the Ghana…
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Finance Minister Courts Okyehene’s Support On Ghana’s Environmental Sustainability

Finance Minister Courts Okyehene’s Support On Ghana’s Environmental Sustainability

Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Finance Minister, has called for the support of Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the King of Akyem Abuakwa, Eastern Region, for continued effort in ensuring environmental sustainability in Ghana. The Minister made this call when he visited the Okyehene on Wednesday evening for his blessings and counsel for the new role he assumed about a week ago, following President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial reshuffle. “You [Amoatia Ofori Panin] have done so much for this country since your ascension to the throne, especially, your leadership in the fight against illegal mining and have become a champion of environmental sustainability, not…
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New Finance Minister Under Pressure — Calls On Him To Remove ‘Nuisance Taxes’

New Finance Minister Under Pressure — Calls On Him To Remove ‘Nuisance Taxes’

Industry players are beginning to mount pressure on the newly appointed Minister of Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin-Adam, as they demand the removal of what they describe as ‘nuisance taxes’ from the country’s tax regime. The industry players believe that, the Mid-Year Budget Review expected to be laid before Parliament in the next few months can be used to remove those taxes such as Electronic Levy  (E-Levy), the taxes on electricity consumption, and the emission tax among others. The numerous port charges are also eating deep into the finances of importers, making it difficult to produce at costs competitive to enable…
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Amin Adam Replaces Ofori-Atta As Finance Minister

Amin Adam Replaces Ofori-Atta As Finance Minister

Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam has been announced as the new Minister of Finance. He takes over from Ken Ofori-Atta who was relieved of his duties by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in a major government reshuffle on Wednesday. In February 2023, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam was announced Minister of State at the Finance Ministry as a replacement of Charles Adu Boahen who was removed following a corruption expose by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Amin Adam’s Profile Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam is an Economist, Energy and Petroleum Policy Expert, and Resource Governance Advocate.…
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External Debt Restructuring: Eurobond Holders To Face Nominal ‘Haircut’ Of Between 30-40%

External Debt Restructuring: Eurobond Holders To Face Nominal ‘Haircut’ Of Between 30-40%

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has stated that Eurobond holders may face a nominal haircut of between 30% and 40% as part of the restructuring of the external debt. According to him, coupons may also not exceed 5% with final maturities of not more than 20 years. “So in our indicative scenario, the restructuring terms for bondholders involve maybe a nominal haircut between 30 and 40%, looking at maybe coupons of not more than 5% and final maturities of not more than 20 years are sort of the contours of what we are discussing and analyzing”. Updating investors about the state…
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