After an unparalleled contraction in 2020, sub-Saharan Africa is set to grow by 3.7 percent in 2021 and 3.8 percent in 2022. The recovery is supported by rising commodity prices, improving global trade and financial conditions. But this welcomed rebound is relatively modest by global standards, leading to a widening income disparity with developed economies.

The Nigerian federal government spent a total of N1.8 trillion on debt servicing in the first five months of the year, representing about 98% of the total revenue generated in the same period. This is according to the budget implementation report presented by the Minister of Finance, Budget & National Planning, Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed.

Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has said the quality of Ghana’s cocoa is unmatched making China no competition in terms of cocoa exports to the international market. “Ghana’s cocoa in terms of quality is matchless to none globally, hence, the international market’s decision to pay up to 25 percent premium on

Ghana has on several occasions warnings and alerts from rating agencies and major multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and Fitch Ratings over its stagnant revenues and rising debt vulnerabilities. Fitch Ratings for instance, in June, reviewed downwards Ghana’s Long-Term IDR from ‘B’ to ‘B-‘ indicating an increase in the country’s default risk in repayment of its

Multilateral institution, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Ghana’s gross financing needs for the year 2020 exceeded 20 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In monetary terms, that amounts to some $13.68 billion. Despite having a financing need of $13.68 billion mostly due to the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, government was able to

Former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, has cautioned government on the need for a credible revenue and expenditure plan in order to avert defaulting on its debts, as the nation is currently challenged with roll-over risks of its debts. Per government’s issuances calendar, cumulatively during 2021, a chunk of government issuances of about GH¢99.65 billion on

$23.5 billion in donor contributions to IDA, World Bank fund for the poor. The World Bank today announced a $93 billion replenishment package of the International Development Association (IDA) to help low-income countries respond to the COVID-19 crisis and build a greener, more resilient, and inclusive future. The financing brings together $23.5 billion of contributions from 48 high- and middle-income countries with financing raised in the capital markets, repayments, and the World Bank’s own contributions.  The financing package, agreed over a two-day meeting hosted virtually by Japan, is the largest ever mobilized in IDA’s 61-year history. IDA’s unique leveraging

As e-money use grows, regulators need to focus on consumer protection and the integrity of the overall payments system. Imagine you go to pay for your morning coffee and your stored-value card returns an error message, or the wallet in the payments app on your phone isn’t opening because the company providing the payment service

“I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle” – Winston S. Churchill. In a bid to widen the nation’s tax net and rope in the informal sector, a 1.75% electronic transaction levy (e-levy)

Sub-Saharan Africa is set to emerge from the 2020 recession sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic with growth expected to expand by 3.3 percent in 2021. This is one percent higher than the April 2021 forecast according to the latest edition of Africa’s Pulse. This rebound is currently fueled by elevated commodity prices, a relaxation of