Finance
Ato Essien to court: Give me chance to explain if I default

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of defunct Capital Bank, William Ato Essien says he should not be jailed if he defaults in paying GH₵20 million to the state by April 28, 2023.
He wants to rather be given the opportunity to explain why he has defaulted.
This plea is contained in documents filed by Mr. Essien’s lawyers challenging the 13th December 2022 decision of the High Court presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffuor.
Justice Baffuor had on the said date convicted Mr. Essien on his own plea of guilty and accepted the terms of an agreement he had entered into with the Attorney General’s Office.
Section 35 of the Court’s Act allows a party to pay or refund money stolen from the state with interest. It also affords the accused from doing jail term when found guilty.
The court, however, suspended Essien’s Custodial sentence.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Essien who was accused of stealing admitted to the offence.
The judge ordered Mr. Essiento pay GH₵90 million within one year as stated in the agreement.
According to the court, Essien had earlier paid GH₵30 million to the state.
He is expected to pay an outstanding amount of GH₵60 million in three instalments of GH₵20 million on April 20, 2023, August 31, 2023, and December 15, 2023.
The GH₵90 million consists of GH₵27.5 million allocated to business promotion, GH₵30 million which prosecution said could not be accounted for and GH₵32.5 million as reparation, restitution and interest.
The court held that if Essien’s failed to pay any of the amount, “he shall be produced before the court for him to be sentenced.”
The court further directed the Registrar of the Court not to release Essien’s passport to him until the completion of his payments.
The court prohibited Mr Essien, from holding any key position in any bank or financial institution.
- National honours conferred on COVID-19, ITLOS champions – 15 March 2023
- Misinformation undermining democracy, eroding gains in Ghana – 14 March 2023
- Dr Akoto: With right investment in agric, Ghana will not need IMF – 14 March 2023
Finance
Ofori-Atta appeals to Parliament to approve revenue measures

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has informed parliament of his intention to present necessary fiscal adjustments to the house in august after the debt operation is completed.
Outstanding revenue mobilisation bills
Already, he said the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, Excise Duty & Excise Tax Stamp (Amendment) Bills as well as the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, are outstanding in Parliament.
According to him, the consideration and approval of fiscal measures by Parliament are critical for recovery from the current economic crisis.
Facilitating IMF Board approval
The Minister therefore entreated Parliament to prioritise the approval of the outstanding revenue mobilisation bills to facilitate the Board Approval for International Monetary Fund (IMF) Programme staff level agreement by the end of March, 2023.
“We are still counting on you for the passage of all the outstanding revenue Bills which are necessary for effective Budget Implementation as well as boosting our efforts at increasing our Tax-to-GDP from less than 13% to the sub-Saharan average of 18,” he stated.
Expected impact of IMF Board approval
He is confident IMF Board approval will restore macro-economic stability, ensure debt sustainability as well as provide critical social protection for the benefit of Ghanaians.
Factors that impacted economy negatively
COVID-19, Russia-Ukraine war, soaring energy and food prices, higher interest rates, a strong dollar and a global slowdown negatively affected the economy.
Ghana seeking $3 billion loan
Ghana and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached staff-level agreement on economic policies and reforms to be supported by a new three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) of about $3 billion.
But, the IMF has made it clear that the Board approval of the deal is contingent on a successful debt exchange programme.
Broader govt response strategy
Addressing Parliament on the ongoing debt restructuring efforts, Ofori-Atta explained that debt operations are a composite part of a broader government response strategy for addressing the current challenges.
While being optimistic about IMF programme to boost confidence in the economy, he emphasized that complementing it with enhanced domestic mobilisation efforts is critical.
4 out of 5 agreed Prior Actions in the Staff Level Agreement
The Finance Minister averred that the passage of the Bills will enable government to complete four out of five agreed Prior Actions in the Staff Level Agreement.
Agreed Prior Actions already implemented
He noted that tariff adjustment by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Publication of the Auditor-General’s Report on COVID-19 Spending, and Onboarding of Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and Road Fund on the Ghana integrated financial management information system (GIFMIS) have all been completed.
International and domestic bond markets are shut
Ofori-Atta reminded the legislators that the international and domestic bond markets are shut for the financing of government’s programmes, forcing government to rely on the Treasury Bills and concessional loans as the primary sources of financing for the 2023 fiscal year.
Therefore, he called on Parliament to support the government’s financing requests to ensure a smooth recovery from the economic challenges.
He thanked everyone who tendered and supported the Domestic Debt Exchange programme saying “It is a truly remarkable act of sacrifice in our nation’s history. We thank those who heeded our clarion call and took the selfless, patriotic decision to participate. Your names and deeds will never be forgotten. Your timely support is deeply appreciated,”.
He is confident that the programme government has set out for this year, supported by Parliament, will get Ghana out of the economic crisis that has hit the economy since Covid-19.
Inflation interest and exchange rates to stabilise
He hopes for stability in the exchange rates, inflation and interest rates, bringing businesses and families some respite.
Suspension of payments of interest on foreign debt
Government also announced a suspension of all debt service payments for certain categories of external debt, pending an orderly restructuring.
International bondholders
Ofori-Atta revealed that Ghana initiated discussions with representatives of international bondholders and their Advisors.
According to him, substantive discussions are due to start with them in the weeks to come.
G-20 Debt Treatment initiative
Ghana officially asked its bilateral creditors for a Debt Treatment initiative under the G-20 Common framework.
Negotiations with commercial creditors underway
The Finance minister said the process of negotiations have started in good faith with commercial creditors.
Ofori-Atta stated that two preliminary discussions and exchange of information have started on a good footing with representative committees and advisors.
Creditor Committee to assess Ghana’s request
According to him, the members have indicated their commitment to establish a Creditor Committee to assess Ghana’s request for debt treatment under the Common Framework by end February, 2023.
- National honours conferred on COVID-19, ITLOS champions – 15 March 2023
- Misinformation undermining democracy, eroding gains in Ghana – 14 March 2023
- Dr Akoto: With right investment in agric, Ghana will not need IMF – 14 March 2023
Finance
IMF assigns resident financial supervision adviser to BoG

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has assigned a Resident financial sector supervision adviser to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to provide technical assistance and help build the capacity of the banking supervision function.
The appointment was at the request of Bank of Ghana with full funding from Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Mr. Leonard Chumo, the Resident Adviser, started his assignment at the Bank of Ghana on February 6, 2023, and was expected to stay for three years.
A statement issued by BoG in Accra said the Adviser’s placement was a continuation of cooperation in this area between the Bank, the IMF and SECO, that started as early as in 2015 and had already seen the assignment of a previous Adviser until 2018.
It said achievements from the past collaborative efforts include the passage of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930), the development and issuance of the Corporate Governance Directive 2018, and the Capital Requirement Directive 2018.
Mr Chumo, brings first-hand knowledge of supervisory work from leading central banks as well as previous technical assistance experience in the Western Africa region.
The statement said among others, he would support the implementation of Pillar two and three of the Basel II/ III capital frameworks, as well as strengthen the Risk-Based Supervisory framework at the Bank of Ghana.
The Bank commended the management of SECO for the continued funding of Long-Term Technical Experts from the IMF to the Bank.
- National honours conferred on COVID-19, ITLOS champions – 15 March 2023
- Misinformation undermining democracy, eroding gains in Ghana – 14 March 2023
- Dr Akoto: With right investment in agric, Ghana will not need IMF – 14 March 2023
Finance
Govt pledges to pay coupons, principals on all maturing bonds

Government has assured all bondholders, including those who self-exempted from the voluntary Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) that it will honour all coupon payments and maturing principals when due.
Payment of coupons and principal for bonds that matured since February 6 to date (herein referred to as ‘Due Bonds’ remain outstanding.
Bondholders want government to make payments not later than Friday, February 17, 2023.
A statement issued by the Finance Ministry indicates that more than 80% bondholders participated in its $137 billion DDEP.
“The DDEP closed on Friday February 10, 2023, with over 80% participation of eligible bonds,” it said.
The Finance Ministry pledged to honour all coupon payments and maturing principals in addition to commitments to further streamline Government’s expenditures.
“We would like to stress that, all Individual bondholders, especially our Senior Citizens, should rest assured that their coupon payments and maturing principals, like all Government bonds, will be honoured in line with Government’s Fiscal commitments.
“The Government would like to reassure all individual bondholders who elected not to participate that your coupon payments and maturing principals, like all Government bonds, will be honoured in line with Government fiscal commitments,” it added.
Government reiterated that the DDEP had been executed to help protect the economy and enhance Ghana’s capacity to service its public debts effectively, as its debt had become unsustainable.
The alternative for not executing the DDEP would have brought grave disorder in the servicing of our national debt and exacerbated the current economic crisis.
It expressed gratitude to bondholders for the overwhelming participation, adding that their support and contributions had gotten Ghana much closer to securing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.
There are fears that those who opt against signing up are not guaranteed market liquidity for the old bonds, because they are likely to become less tradeable on the secondary market compared with the new bonds.
On the other hand, individuals who sign up for the new bonds will have more certainty even in a changing economic landscape.
- National honours conferred on COVID-19, ITLOS champions – 15 March 2023
- Misinformation undermining democracy, eroding gains in Ghana – 14 March 2023
- Dr Akoto: With right investment in agric, Ghana will not need IMF – 14 March 2023
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