Business News of Thursday, 21 February 2019

Source: starrfm.com.gh

SONA 2019: GDP growth among highest in the world – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo play videoPresident Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo on Thursday said Ghana’s recent GDP growth is among the highest in the world.

“Our efforts are bearing fruits and the world is taking notice of the improvement in our economic fundamentals,” he said.

Addressing his 3rd State of the Nation Address in Ghana’s Parliament in Accra, Akufo-Addo further noted despite the improvements in Ghana’s economic fundamentals “we intend to introduce measures that will ensure that we have the firmest foundations for the economic takeoff that has eluded us for so long.”

He said Ghana for the first time, recorded a trade surplus (more exports than imports) in 2017 with a declining debt to GDP ratio from 56.6% in 2016 to 54.8% at the end of 2018.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) last December said it was very impressed with the way and manner in which the government had handled the Ghanaian economy over the last 24 months.

Speaking at the Jubilee House Managing Director of IMF Christine Lagarde, said all the economic indices point to the fact that Ghana is on the right path economically.

“We are really impressed with the work that has been done because you indeed arrived in a situation that was from a microeconomic point of view fragile. All indications were in the red and through massive work, effort, sacrifices as well, those indicates are turning in the right direction,” the IMF boss said.