Ghana was ranked 5th in Africa for outstanding debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as of August 2025, unchanged from July 2025 data.
According to figures from the Fund, the country’s outstanding credit stood at Special Drawing Rights (SDR) 2.70 billion.
Egypt topped the list with SDR 7.18 billion, though slightly lower than its July figure. Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya followed in 2nd and 3rd positions with SDR 3.10 billion and SDR 3.02 billion respectively.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Zambia placed 6th to 10th in that order.
While borrowing from the IMF is not inherently negative, analysts caution that excessive dependence on the Fund could erode economic independence and credibility in the long term. For African countries, the concern lies not only in the financial burden but also in policy constraints tied to IMF programmes.
Experts stress the need for countries to avoid debt traps as a safeguard for sustainable growth and stability.
Source: Joy Business
