Bank of Ghana increases policy rate to 14.5 percent
This is the first time since May 2021 that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has increased the policy rate amid the coronavirus pandemic
The monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has increased the policy rate by 100 basis points from 13.5% to 14.5 5%.
The Policy rate is indicative of the rate at which the Central Bank lends to commercial banks in the country.
In May 2021, the BoG lowered the policy rate by 100 basis points, from 14.5% to 13.5percent. It was the first time in the year that the central bank had lowered the policy rate.
The central bank had since then maintained the policy rate at 13.5% for two consecutive times.
Public Debt
Meanwhile, Ghana’s Public debt now stands at 341 billion dollars, one billion up from the 340 billion recorded in August 2021. The 341 billion cedis represents 77.8 percent of GDP.
This is according to the latest data released by the Bank of Ghana. In the report, Domestic debt stands at 178.1 billion dollars while external debt is 163.7 billion dollars.
Economist Kwame Amoah Darkwah who has been going through the data says it’s time to take a look at reducing budget deficit targets and rationalize expenditure schedules.
Below is the full statement