Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem has called for a deliberate shift from economic recovery to building a resilient economy capable of absorbing future shocks without losing the gains made.

Speaking at the Business Roundtable Extended 2026 Executive Dialogue on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, he said the country’s improved economic indicators provided an opportunity to strengthen its foundations and build a more productive and diversified economy.

Nyarko Ampem said Ghana had made significant progress, with real GDP growing by 6.0% in 2025 and 6.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, while inflation declined from 23.8 percent in December 2024 to 4.6% in July 2026.

He also noted that gross international reserves had reached about US$12.9 billion at the end of June, providing five months of import cover, while the country’s debt distress risk had improved from high to moderate.

However, he cautioned that the gains must not lead to complacency.

“We must not become prisoners of our own good numbers,” he said, stressing that stability must translate into increased production, investment and jobs for Ghanaians.

The Deputy Minister who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asuogyaman in the Eastern Region said government was committed to maintaining fiscal discipline, noting that Ghana recorded a primary surplus of 0.9% of GDP in the first half of 2026, against a full-year target of 1.5%.

He said the country must also build stronger economic buffers through higher reserves, sustainable debt, fiscal buffers, energy security and food security.

“The next shock will certainly come. We simply do not know when and its name yet,” he said.

He also called for a transformation of Ghana’s productive base, arguing that the economy must become less dependent on commodity price movements.

“A resilient economy must produce more of what it consumes and add value to more of what it produces,” he said.

He said government’s New Economy Programme, to be implemented from 2027, would focus on productivity, diversification, value addition and job creation.

Nyarko Ampem further urged the private sector to take advantage of improving financing conditions to invest in production, innovation, exports and long-term growth.

He said stronger institutions were equally necessary to protect economic gains across political cycles.

“We cannot build a ten-year economy with four-year thinking,” he said.

He called for a new partnership between Government and business, with Government providing stability, infrastructure, efficient regulation and fiscal discipline, while businesses respond with investment, innovation, productivity, exports and jobs.

He said Ghana must use the current economic breathing space to break the cycle of borrowing, accumulating arrears, losing stability and restructuring.

“We have stabilised the present. Now we must secure the future,” he said, insisting that Ghana must build an economy that is productive, diversified, disciplined and resilient enough to withstand the next shock.