IISD and IMANI to Host Roundtable Shaping Ghana’s New Independent Fiscal Authority
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the IMANI Center for Policy & Education are hosting a policy roundtable on Wednesday, August 27th at the Tang Palace Hotel, Accra, bringing together government, Parliament, development partners, civil society, and researchers to discuss the design and implementation of Ghana’s new Fiscal Council.
The new Fiscal Council, to be established under the Public Financial Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, will monitor and advise on Ghana’s fiscal performance.
The same Act also sets a fiscal surplus target of at least 1.5% of GDP and a public debt ceiling of 45% of GDP by 2034.
The roundtable will discuss how to make the Council credible, independent, and effective, helping to strengthen fiscal discipline while supporting Ghana’s development priorities.
Ghana’s history of debt distress and macroeconomic instability highlights the urgent need for such an institution. A well-designed Fiscal Council can:
- Provide evidence-based advice to improve budget and debt decisions
- Increase trust in government budgets, anchoring market and public expectations
- Increase transparency and accountability, boosting investor confidence
- Ensure fiscal policy supports essential development priorities like education, health, and infrastructure.
A new report will be presented outlining a roadmap for a robust and independent Fiscal Council. The recommendations focus on establishing a credible institutional structure, ensuring access to real-time fiscal data, and embedding transparent practices such as public reporting and independent debt analysis.
The report presentation will be followed by a dialogue. The discussion will explore how the Ministry of Finance, Parliament, and development partners can integrate the Council’s work into the budget process, strengthen fiscal oversight, and support sustainable development outcomes.
