Ghana is requesting support from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to mitigate the economic impact of the global outbreak of coronavirus.
Courtesy: Bloomberg
A preliminary review shows that the West African nation’s income from oil, tourism, aviation and trade will miss initial forecasts, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta told lawmakers. While Ghana anticipates a financing gap as a result of the disruption, its $3-billion Eurobond issuance will provide a buffer for the government’s finances, according to a copy of Ofori-Atta’s address to parliament.
Earlier this month, the World Bank announced a $12-billion package to help poorer countries confront the disease’s health and economic effects, while the IMF announced a rapid credit-facility of $50 billion for similar purposes.
“Measures are being put in place to close a possible financing gap in the 2020 budget,” Ofori-Atta said. These may also include withdrawals from the government’s stabilization fund, which is financed from oil revenue, he said. The fund had $333 million available at the end of September, according to the finance ministry.
