IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/pra/mprapa/117429.html

Assessing the Impact of International Monetary Fund Programs on The Ghanaian Economy: A Review of the Period Between 1992 And 2020

Author

Listed:
  • yeboah, samuel
  • James Nyarkoh, Bright

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive review of the impact of International Monetary Fund (IMF) programs on the Ghanaian economy during the period between 1992 and 2020. The study examines the achievements, challenges, and criticisms associated with these programs, with a specific focus on macroeconomic stability, debt relief, and the implementation of structural reforms. The review highlights the positive outcomes of IMF programs in Ghana, including the successful attainment of macroeconomic stability through fiscal consolidation, inflation control, and effective exchange rate management. Furthermore, debt relief initiatives under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Multilateral Debt Relief (MDR) programs have significantly alleviated Ghana's debt burden, enabling the redirection of resources towards investment and development. The implementation of structural reforms has also enhanced the efficiency and competitiveness of key sectors such as finance, trade, and agriculture. However, the review acknowledges the challenges and criticisms surrounding IMF programs in Ghana. Notably, concerns arise regarding inequality, as certain policies have had uneven distributional impacts, exacerbating social disparities. Additionally, the social consequences of these programs, particularly in areas such as healthcare and education, have raised concerns about the welfare of vulnerable populations. The sustainability of the implemented reforms is also a subject of scrutiny, as long-term durability necessitates continuous monitoring and evaluation of fiscal consolidation efforts, debt management strategies, and structural reforms. Furthermore, environmental implications, particularly in terms of natural resource management and sustainable development practices, require careful consideration. The experiences and lessons learned from IMF programs have significantly influenced Ghana's economic policies and continue to shape ongoing efforts towards achieving sustainable and inclusive growth. In light of the findings, this review offers policy recommendations to address the identified challenges, including strengthening social safety nets, promoting inclusive growth, enhancing revenue mobilization, and bolstering institutional capacity.

Suggested Citation

  • yeboah, samuel & James Nyarkoh, Bright, 2023. "Assessing the Impact of International Monetary Fund Programs on The Ghanaian Economy: A Review of the Period Between 1992 And 2020," MPRA Paper 117429, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 22 May 2023.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:117429
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/117429/1/IMF%20AND%20GHANAIAN%20ECONOMY%20FINAL%20WORK%20SATURDAY.pdf
    File Function: original version
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Asiedu, Elizabeth & Lien, Donald, 2011. "Democracy, foreign direct investment and natural resources," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 99-111, May.
    2. Charles Komla Adjasi & Charles Amo Yartey, 2007. "Stock Market Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Critical Issues and Challenges," IMF Working Papers 2007/209, International Monetary Fund.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Akhtaruzzaman, Muhammad & Berg, Nathan & Lien, Donald, 2017. "Confucius Institutes and FDI flows from China to Africa," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 241-252.
    2. Godwin Okafor & Jenifer Piesse & Allan Webster, 2017. "FDI Determinants in Least Recipient Regions: The Case of Sub†Saharan Africa and MENA," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 29(4), pages 589-600, December.
    3. Simplice A. Asongu & Uchenna R. Efobi & Ibukun Beecroft, 2021. "Aid in Modulating the Impact of Terrorism on FDI: No Positive Thresholds, No Policy," Forum for Social Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(4), pages 432-456, October.
    4. Awijen, Haithem & Ben Zaied, Younes & Ben Jabeur, Sami, 2025. "Mobilizing FDI in natural resources in the post-COP28 era: Spatial drivers, natural capital, and sustainability dynamics," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    5. SAIBU, Olufemi Muibi, 2012. "An analysis of causal nexus between foreign direct investment, exchange rate and financial market development in Nigeria (1970 to 2009)," MPRA Paper 42429, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Doytch, Nadia & Elheddad, Mohamed & Perez-Sebastian, Fidel, 2025. "Corrigendum to “New climate policy, resource abundance, and sectoral FDI”," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    7. Uchenna Efobi & Simplice Asongu & Ibukun Beecroft, 2018. "Aid, Terrorism, and Foreign Direct Investment: Empirical Insight Conditioned on Corruption Control," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(4), pages 610-630, October.
    8. Songfeng, Cai & Yaxiong, Zhang & Bo, Meng, 2014. "The Impact Analysis of TTIP on BRICs—based on dynamic GTAP model considering GVC," Conference papers 332528, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    9. Dutta, Nabamita & Kar, Saibal, 2018. "Relating rule of law and budgetary allocation for tourism: Does per capita income growth make a difference for Indian states?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 263-271.
    10. Federico Carril-Caccia & Juliette Milgram-Baleix & Jordi Paniagua, 2019. "Foreign Direct Investment in oil-abundant countries: The role of institutions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, April.
    11. Alam, Ashraful & Uddin, Moshfique & Yazdifar, Hassan & Shafique, Sujana & Lartey, Theophilus, 2020. "R&D investment, firm performance and moderating role of system and safeguard: Evidence from emerging markets," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 94-105.
    12. Simplice Asongu & Enowbi Batuo & Vanessa Tchamyou, 2015. "Bundling Governance: Finance versus Institutions in Private Investment Promotion," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 15/051, African Governance and Development Institute..
    13. Philipp Harms & Pierre-Guillaume Méon, 2013. "The Composition of FDI in the MENA Region and Other Countries: Econometric Investigation and Implications for MENA Countries," Working Papers 793, Economic Research Forum, revised Nov 2013.
    14. Gwahula Raphael, 2023. "Does corruption attract foreign direct investment inflows? Evidence from Tanzania," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 12(5), pages 204-216, July.
    15. Sumon Kumar Bhaumik & Nigel Driffield & Saul Estrin & Zarlasht M. Razeq, 2025. "Geopolitical alignment, outside options, and inward FDI: an integrated framework and policy pathways," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(2), pages 137-154, June.
    16. Wisniewski, Tomasz Piotr & Lambe, Brendan John, 2015. "Does economic policy uncertainty drive CDS spreads?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 447-458.
    17. Simplice Asongu, 2015. "Rational Asymmetric Development: Transfer Pricing and Sub-Saharan Africa’s Extreme Poverty Tragedy," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 15/017, African Governance and Development Institute..
    18. Morrissey, Oliver & Udomkerdmongkol, Manop, 2012. "Governance, Private Investment and Foreign Direct Investment in Developing Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 437-445.
    19. Parmendra Sharma & Eduardo Roca, 2011. "Reâ Designing Financial Systems: A Review of the Role of Stock Markets in Developing Economies," Discussion Papers in Finance finance:201120, Griffith University, Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics.
    20. Asongu, Simplice & Nwachukwu, Jacinta, 2015. "Drivers of FDI in Fast Growing Developing Countries: Evidence from Bundling and Unbundling Governance," MPRA Paper 67294, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • E02 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - Institutions and the Macroeconomy
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • F33 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Monetary Arrangements and Institutions
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:117429. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Joachim Winter (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/vfmunde.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.