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Mahama shares Ghana’s debt restructuring lessons at AU conference
President John Dramani Mahama addressed fellow African leaders at the African Union Conference on Debt in Lomé, Togo, on Monday, sharing insights from Ghana’s experience with debt restructuring.
He emphasised the importance of transparency and timely engagement with creditors to avoid severe economic consequences from reactive debt management decisions.
The president highlighted the significant infrastructure gap facing Africa, which requires an estimated $130-170 billion in annual investment. He noted that the lack of access to affordable, long-term financing options often leaves nations with unsustainable debt burdens.
Citing IMF data, the President expressed concern that 22 African countries are currently in or at high risk of debt distress. He pointed out that the average public debt-to-GDP ratio in sub-Saharan Africa is projected to exceed 60% in 2025, a significant increase from 40% a decade ago.
Drawing from Ghana’s history, President Mahama referenced the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI), which enabled Ghana to reduce its debt-to-GDP ratio from over 100% to under 30%. This, he explained, freed up crucial fiscal space for investments in key sectors like education, roads, and healthcare.
“Ghana, like many of our peers, has had to undergo painful restructuring to restore macroeconomic stability and rebuild investor confidence,” President Mahama stated.
He highlighted Ghana’s strategic use of concessional and non-concessional financing between the early 2000s and 2015 to accelerate infrastructure development and social inclusion.
The President detailed how, after initial progress, Ghana’s debt situation deteriorated due to a combination of unrestrained borrowing and multiple external shocks, leading to a debt-to-GDP ratio increase from 56.3% in 2016 to a peak of 90.7% in 2022.
He noted that by 2023, interest payments alone consumed 47% of total government revenue, a level deemed fiscally unsustainable by the World Bank.
The Ghana Police Service has arrested three (3) suspects in connection with a case of possession of narcotic drugs and engaging in prohibited drug-related activities within the Accra metropolis.
On April 10, 2026, the Special Operations Assistant to the Inspector General of Police received intelligence that a group of individuals were planning to engage in the sale of suspected narcotic drugs at Dzorwulu in Accra.
A surveillance operation was mounted and on 11th April 2026, a Police team proceeded to the area and arrested two suspects, Bright Ayivor and Ifeanyi Ijeoba.
The suspects were found in possession of twenty-two (22) compressed substances suspected to be cocaine, which were being prepared for sale to a prospective buyer.
Further interrogation of the suspects led to the identification of a third suspect, Kwabena Botwe as a key figure in the drug trade.
A follow-up operation at Caprice resulted in his arrest after Police mounted surveillance during a planned transaction involving proceeds from the sale of the suspected drugs.
The suspect later led Police to his residence at Greda Estates, where a search resulted in the retrieval of an amount of GHc400,000 and a counting machine.
According to the police, during the operation, he attempted to bribe the arresting officers with an additional GHc420,000, which has been retained as evidence.
All the suspects are currently in Police custody assisting investigations and will be put before the court.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, yesterday April 14, 2026, promoted seven officers of the Tema Regional Police Command to their next ranks for their role in a recent anti-robbery operation in Tema.
The promotions were awarded to officers who responded to a robbery attack on a Mobile Money vendor at Tema Community 5 leading to the shooting of two robbery suspects and the recovery of a firearm, ammunition, and other exhibits.
The officers promoted are Chief Inspector Enoch Nartey Nuer, Inspector Gershon Dekpey; Inspector Prince Asante; No. 45881 Sergeant Lukman Mohammed; No. 49900 Sergeant Eugene Kuudouru; No. 54157 Corporal Jerome Akator; and No. 59882 Lance Corporal Jonathan Sewurah.
The IGP, together with members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), congratulated the officers on their promotion and commended them for their courage, discipline, and commitment to duty.
The IGP urged the officers to view their promotion as a call to higher responsibility and encouraged all personnel to continue working with dedication and professionalism in the service of the nation.
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