Financial expert and CEO of Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, has warned that Ghana will find itself at the mercy of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) again if the country goes back to the level of financial indiscipline that led to it.

Speaking in an interview with TV3 on January 6, 2026, Jackson responded to comments by President John Dramani Mahama, who declared that Ghana would not return to the IMF after its programme ends in mid-2026.

According to Joe Jackson, the pledge is “feasible but unlikely.” He warned that if the government returns to its usual pattern of financial mismanagement, the country will be back at the IMF.

“The issue really simply is this. If we don't commit to fundamentally reforming our economy, if we don't commit to disciplined behavior, less corruption, then we'll end up with the IMF one more time,” he warned.

Ghana to exit IMF programme with dignity – President Mahama

Citing 18 past instances in which the country has sought relief from the IMF, Joe Jackson painted a picture of the behavior that always leads Ghana back to the body.

“We go to the IMF. They hold a big stick over us. We are disciplined. What do we do? We get back to correct behavior. Life is good. Very rapidly, we forget about the behavior that took us to the IMF.

"We throw away the discipline. We behave like alcoholics that are addicted to borrowing, addicted to splurging on consumption. What then happens? We fall into trouble again and we up running, cup in hand to the IMF and say, we beg,” he said.

Jackson warned that avoiding future IMF support is dependent on a permanent change in economic management.

“We will not go to the IMF only if we are disciplined. We will not go to the IMF only if we change the economy fundamentally, and we learn from the mistakes of the past.

“So long as we keep forgetting the mistakes of the past, so long as we throw away discipline and go for popular consumption-based borrowing. Hey, forgive me, but we'll be back with the IMF,” he said.

ID/SEA