Publication: Legislative Alerts

Perennial fiscal deficit overruns in Ghana and their adverse effects on the economy have attracted widespread Concern. Motivated by this concern, IEA carried out research to assess the processes, arrangements and the legal framework for budget preparation, implementation and oversight. The study included a survey of selected MDAs and relevant Parliamentary Committees. The study found…

Evidence shows that Ghana has had higher rates of inflation compared to most of its African peers during its history. This unenviable record can be attributed to both the causes and management of inflation. The causes have received considerable attention in the literature. High domestic demand fuelled by expansionary fiscal policies and accommodating monetary policies…

The Ghanaian Cedi has been on the decline for the better part of its history, apparently with no end in sight. An IEA study has determined that the long-run decline of the Cedi is influenced by economic fundamentals that drive the real rate towards its equilibrium level. Further, despite the recent sharp depreciation of the…

After rebasing in 2010, Ghana’s per capita GDP rose to Middle-Income Country (MIC) level as defined by the World Bank. The per capita income measure is, however, seen to be too narrow as it does not even include key economic indicators let alone important social and development indicators. The IEA has assessed Ghana’s MI status…

Ghana has a long history of high inflation rates, popularly attributed to supply not keeping up with demand. However, Ghana’s current single digit inflation can be attributed to a number of factors including the reduction in global inflation rate and a stable exchange rate for a period of time. This single-digit inflation has spurred the…

More than half a century after independence, the Ghanaian economy remains dependent on cocoa and gold for its survival. The country has failed to diversify the economy’s production base all these years. In essence, the economy has retained its colonial “Guggisberg structure.” The endurance of the Guggisberg economy has come with considerable costs. These include…

After rebasing in 2010, Ghana’s per capita GDP rose to Middle-Income Country (MIC) level as defined by the World Bank. The per capita income measure is, however, seen to be too narrow as it does not even include key economic indicators let alone important social and development indicators. The IEA has assessed Ghana’s MI status…

For more than a decade, a process to deregulate the domestic petroleum sector remains uncompleted. This is because successive Governments have not been able to muster the necessary political courage to implement it fully. At best, the policy has been implemented on a piecemeal basis. In the process, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Ghana National Petroleum…

This Legislative Alert examines the fiscal provisions of Ghana’s mining code. It briefly examines the changes that have been made in Ghana since the first code was enacted in 1986. Noting the recent change in royalty rates, as well as the imposition of ad-hoc levies, the Legislative Alert argues that in the context of the…