President John Dramani Mahama has declared that Ghana’s ongoing programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be the final bailout the country undertakes, as his administration works to build a resilient economy capable of standing without external financial support.

Addressing the Annual New Year School and Conference in Accra on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, the President said Ghana is expected to exit the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility by the middle of the year and will not return to the Fund for future assistance.

President Mahama described the IMF programme as largely successful but stressed the need to consolidate the gains made. He said this would be achieved by strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation, restoring fiscal discipline and rebuilding confidence in the financial sector. According to him, economic resilience cannot be achieved through austerity alone, but through production, inclusion and shared prosperity.

“We must move beyond stabilisation to growth that creates jobs and opportunities for all,” the president said.

On infrastructure development, President Mahama announced that construction of the Accra–Kumasi Expressway will begin this year. He described it as unacceptable that Ghana’s two largest cities remain connected by what he characterised as an overstretched single-lane route, citing severe traffic congestion during the Christmas and New Year period as evidence of the project’s urgency.

The president also unveiled plans for a Green Digital City spanning parts of the Greater Accra, Eastern and Volta regions. He explained that the proposed development would host some government offices and institutions to help decongest Accra, stressing that the new city would complement, rather than replace, the capital as a modern, technology-driven urban hub.

Turning to human capital development, President Mahama said education, skills training, health and innovation remain central to his administration’s growth agenda. He reaffirmed government support for the Digital Youth Village and the Centre for Digital Youth Development at the University of Ghana, announcing additional funding to expand the initiative and establish 16 digital hubs of excellence across the country.

On governance, the president said his government is strengthening anti-corruption institutions and promoting accountability, transparency and national discipline. He disclosed plans to establish an independent Value for Money Office this year to ensure more efficient use of public resources.

President Mahama also confirmed that the ban on ministers and public officials travelling first class remains in force, warning that any official who violates the directive will face sanctions.

He concluded by stressing that sustainable development requires responsible leadership and active citizen participation, adding that his administration is determined to build a strong, inclusive economy that no longer depends on IMF bailouts.