Financial and monetary policies in Ghana: A review of recent trends

Abstract

This study has reviewed recent monetary and financial policies pursued in Ghana. The paper concludes that generally, while there have been remarkable improvements in the key monetary indicators which suggest relatively effective monetary policies during the period under review, the fiscal imbalance in the country has limited these outcomes. There is clearly the need for greater fiscal discipline given that monetary policies cannot achieve their intended purposes in the presence of fiscal imbalances. Moreover, although the policy rates have signalled a downward trend in lending rates, this has not reflected in the lending rates charged by deposit money banks (DMBs). This suggests that there are other factors driving interest rates in the country and therefore the need for policy intervention to make the cost of doing business favourable to the private sector.