IMF commends Ghana for progress in electricity access and living standards

The Director of the African Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Abebe Aemro Selassie, has commended Ghana for making significant progress in key development areas, particularly in expanding access to electricity.

He also praised the country for improvements in the living standards of its citizens, describing the gains as the result of sustained national effort rather than external intervention.

Speaking in an interview with Channel One TV on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Mr Selassie emphasised that Ghana’s development achievements should be credited largely to the collective efforts of Ghanaians and their institutions, not IMF programmes.

“There has been remarkable progress in Ghana, and this is not because of the IMF or its programmes. It is the result of what Ghanaians themselves—governments, businesses, Parliament and civil society—have worked hard to achieve over the years,” he said.

Highlighting the energy sector as a key example, Mr Selassie noted that access to electricity in Ghana has expanded significantly over the past two decades, underscoring the country’s steady development trajectory.