Johnson Pandit Asiama

14/10/2026

AI is the next big shift, and Africa must help shape it rather than simply adopt it.

This was the case made in my address on behalf of fellow African Governors at the 2026 African Caucus Meeting with the IMF Managing Director.

The continent has made remarkable progress in digital payments and fintech. Gaps in regulation, cybersecurity, infrastructure and financing, however, continue to hold back safe and inclusive adoption.

Bridging these gaps calls for stronger partnerships that build Africa’s capacity to govern AI, gives the continent a louder voice in shaping global digital rules, and mobilises affordable financing for secure digital infrastructure.

The goal is for AI to work for Africans, driving resilience, jobs and inclusive growth.

13/10/2026

The latest World Economic Outlook finds that the global economy remains resilient, but sustaining that resilience is becoming increasingly costly.

Growth is projected at 3.1% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, as the war in the Middle East weighs on activity through higher energy and food prices, while AI-related investment provides an offsetting boost. Inflation is also projected to rise to 4.7% in 2026 before easing to 4.1% in 2027.

Risks remain tilted to the downside, including renewed escalation in the Middle East and a reassessment of AI-related expectations. But upside risks are also present if AI investment proves more persistent, productivity gains materialize faster, trade arrangements improve, and higher fossil fuel prices accelerate investment in energy security.

The policy priorities are to rebuild fiscal space, strengthen energy security, improve AI readiness, and keep trade and cooperation channels open. https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo/issues/2026/10/13/world-economic-outlook-october-2026?cid=sm-com-meta-am26-WEOEA20206002

13/10/2026

12/10/2026

At our last MPC meetings we welcomed students from GIMPA and UPSA for the second edition of our MPC Educational Observership Programme. Opening our doors to the next generation of economists, policymakers and leaders remains central to our commitment to transparency and public understanding of monetary policy.

08/10/2026

SaoPay yesterday formally launched as a Dedicated Electronic Money Issuer (DEMI), joining Ghana's growing digital payments ecosystem.

Every new entry is a reminder of what an electronic money balance represents. It is cedis held in a new form, and a promise that the value is real, safe and available when needed.

Keeping that promise rests on four commitments for every licensed issuer:

•Customer funds: rigorous three-way reconciliation between the e-money platform, the bank position and customer funds.
• Cyber resilience: onboarding onto FICSOC, with sustained vigilance against fraud, money laundering and terrorist financing.
• Fair treatment: agent networks managed in line with the AML/CFT/CPF Agency Banking Guidelines, and pricing customers can understand before they transact.
• Licence boundaries: savings, credit, insurance and pension products only through regulated partners.

A licence is not a reward for a good application. It is an authorisation to hold the public's trust, under supervision.

02/10/2026

The MPC’s decision to maintain the Monetary Policy Rate at 14.0% reflected its assessment of developments across both the domestic and global economies rather than the movement of any single indicator.

Inflation remained below the lower bound of the Bank’s target band. Core inflation and inflation expectations continued to ease and domestic economic activity remained resilient. At the same time, the Committee considered upside risks from higher oil prices, utility tariffs, transport fares, a stronger US dollar and global supply-chain pressures. These were weighed against continued fiscal consolidation, improved food supply conditions and exchange-rate stability.

After considering these factors together, the MPC assessed the balance of risks to inflation and growth as broadly balanced and unanimously maintained the policy rate at 14.0%.

https://www.bog.gov.gh/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/MPC-Press-Release-September-2026.pdf

30/09/2026

Ghana’s export performance strengthened significantly in the first eight months of 2026. Total merchandise exports reached US$22.44 billion, up from US$17.94 billion over the same period in 2025.

The increase was supported by strong export earnings, particularly from gold, cocoa and crude oil, contributing to a wider trade surplus of US$8.86 billion over the period. This stronger export position is an important source of foreign-exchange earnings and support for Ghana’s external buffers.

29/09/2026

Ghana’s economic activity continues to show strong momentum. The Bank of Ghana’s Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA), a broad measure used to track the direction and strength of economic activity across key sectors, recorded real annual growth of 14.9% in July 2026, up from 12.4% in December 2025, 6.8% in August 2025, and 1.1% in December 2024.

The sustained strengthening in economic activity supports the MPC’s assessment that “the domestic economy continued to demonstrate resilience,” alongside positive business and consumer sentiment.

28/09/2026

Asset quality across Ghana’s banking sector continues to improve, with the Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio declining from 20.8% in August 2025 to 15.7% in August 2026.

The decline indicates a reduction in the share of bank loans classified as non-performing, strengthening bank balance sheets and supporting the resilience of the financial system.