The Director of the African Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Abebe Aemro Selassie, has lauded Ghana for achieving significant progress in critical development areas, especially in electricity access and improvements in living standards.

In an interview with Channel One TV on Wednesday, January 21, Mr Selassie said the strides made by the country should be credited primarily to the efforts of Ghanaians and their institutions, rather than to IMF interventions.

“There has been remarkable progress in Ghana, and this is not because of the IMF or its programmes,” he said.

“It is the result of what Ghanaians themselves — governments, businesses, Parliament and civil society — have worked hard to achieve over the years.”

He pointed to power accessibility as a clear example of the country’s development gains, noting that access to electricity had expanded dramatically over the past two decades.

According to him, electricity coverage, which stood at about 30 to 40 per cent some 20 years ago, has now risen to nearly 90 per cent or more.

Mr Selassie added that these improvements have translated into better living conditions for many citizens, reflecting broader development outcomes across the country.

He stressed, however, that sustaining such progress would require continued collective effort and sound policy choices.

Despite the positive assessment, the IMF official cautioned that Ghana still faces notable challenges, particularly in the areas of job creation and maintaining economic stability, which he said would be critical to securing long-term inclusive growth.