Audio By Carbonatix
Ghanaians are holding on to their dollars after government data showed the nation’s budget deficit was wider than expected, setting the currency on track for the weakest close since June 2015.
The cedi was among the worst performers in the world this year after data showed the nation’s budget shortfall in the first 11 months of 2016 was more than 2 percentage points higher than the government’s target.
The cedi declined 0.7 percent to 4.3775 per dollar as of 11:41 a.m. in London.
Provisional data from the Bank of Ghana for the fiscal period from January through November showed a shortfall of 7 percent of gross domestic product, exceeding the target of 4.7 percent because of weak revenue collection.
Concerns over the currency, which has lost about a fourth of its value in two years, were further exacerbated by the central bank’s surprise decision to keep a key interest rate unchanged this month.
The administration under President Nana Akufo-Addo, who took office earlier this month, will present the government’s budget in March.
“People are keeping what they have, until the first budget is read,” Hamza Adam, the head of treasury at Universal Merchant Bank in Accra, said by phone.
“The central bank decided to maintain the policy rate because of inflationary pressures. Combined with the fact that people are not sure about what the budget-deficit target would be, many are just cautious.”
Latest Stories
-
Legalisation of ‘Okada’ will address rider indiscipline – NRSA
9 minutes -
Strengthen your relationships at the J in G Corporate Retreat 2026
15 minutes -
NPP dare not talk corruption if Ofori-Atta remains in US – Adorye warns
24 minutes -
An ordinary man’s extraordinary encounter with the vice president
29 minutes -
Transfer Pricing Audits in Ghana: Why documentation is now more important than the tax itself
34 minutes -
Third child death raises alarm in Dagombaline after three-year-old found dead
40 minutes -
Agradaa ordered to pay GH¢100k to Empress Gifty in defamation case
40 minutes -
Nigeria police deny reports of mass church abductions in north
45 minutes -
Latif Iddrisu vs. IGP trial: Fourth judge adopts case eight years after near-fatal assault on journalist
49 minutes -
Benefits Ghana will get from the GoldBod and Gold Coast Refinery landmark agreement
53 minutes -
Kwabena Agyepong proposes 11-judge Supreme Court bench, removal of retirement age
54 minutes -
NPP: I’m not going to meet any disciplinary committee – Prof Frimpong-Boateng
1 hour -
Republic Financial Holdings exceeds $200m climate finance target
1 hour -
Mayor of Accra pledges extra water tankers for GNFS
1 hour -
Kwabena Agyepong pledges land reforms to curb litigation, strenghten the titling system
1 hour
