Some of the stakeholders during the launch of the programme
The Economic Governance Platform (EGP), hosted by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), has launched an online Public Debt Tracker and an IMF Bailout Dashboard to enhance transparency and accountability in Ghana’s debt management.
Speaking at the launch event in Accra on February 13, 2025, Abdulkarim Mohammed, Coordinator of the Economic Governance Platform, underscored the need to simplify economic data for public consumption.
“Financial management issues often seem like they are meant for only a few people, but if we want a strong democracy where citizens take part in national discussions, we must break down complicated economic information so that everyone can follow,” he said.
Mohammed also pointed out that Ghana’s repeated IMF bailouts have constrained its borrowing options in international markets.
Dr. Angela Azumah Alu, Fiscal Policy Advisor at Oxfam Ghana, lauded the initiative, calling it a significant step toward greater transparency in financial management.
“This initiative aligns with our commitment to fairness and economic justice. The people who suffer the most from Ghana’s debt problems deserve honest leadership and clear information about how the country’s money is managed,” she remarked.
She urged the public to utilize the platform to hold leaders accountable and ensure fiscal responsibility.
Mary Awelana Addah, Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), applauded the Economic Governance Platform’s efforts in fostering fiscal transparency.
She highlighted the platform’s growth into a robust coalition of governance and anti-corruption experts, earning recognition from global institutions such as the IMF and World Bank as a model for civil society engagement.
Encouraging public participation, she urged citizens and journalists to visit egpghana.org for real-time debt data.
She emphasized the platform’s credibility and its value as a resource for advocacy and informed reporting.
Addah called for stronger fiscal policies and encouraged stakeholders to leverage the data to advocate for improved debt management and governance.
The Public Debt Tracker is a key component of the “Citizens Action for Sustainable Debt Management in Ghana” project being implemented by EGP, with funding support from the Open Society Foundation (OSF).
It is an innovative tool designed to provide simplified, user-friendly and timely updates on Ghana’s public debt and its composition, key developments in Ghana’s public debt management and making essential macroeconomic data readily accessible for citizens and other interested stakeholders.
The Dashboard on IMF Bailout on the other hand, provides an update on Ghana’s 17th IMF Programme with the IMF.
This initiative seeks to promote greater transparency and accountability in the
management of Ghana’s public debt, enabling effective citizens’ scrutiny and informed feedback and engagement with policymakers.
The newly launched online tools aim to empower citizens by providing accessible data on debt management policies.
The Economic Governance Platform is a coalition of civil society organizations dedicated to promoting economic transparency.
Its members include the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Institute of Economic Affairs, Oxfam Ghana, Africa Centre for Energy Policy, CDD-Ghana, and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition.
AM/KA
