Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison, has revealed that the first tranche of $600 million from the International Monetary Fund’s $3 billion credit facility, will hit the bank’s account on Friday, May 19, 2023.

Speaking at the IMF and the Finance Ministry’s joint press conference on Thursday, he said “just for your information, we have had swift advice, today to receive the money. Value date tomorrow $604 million.”

On May 17, the IMF finally approved Ghana’s Programme request seeking for a $3 billion Balance of Payment support to stabilise the economy.

The IMF released a 126 press statement giving more details about the deal.

This approval of the deal comes after the IMF in a statement said the government of Ghana has put in place a strategy to tighten expenditure controls and prevent arrears’ build-up.

According to the Fund, public procurement will be fully integrated with the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information (GIFMIS) to ensure that only projects that benefit from approved budgets and quarterly allotments can obtain procurement approvals to award contracts.

In a statement, the Fund said the enforcement of sanctions under the Public Financial Management Act will be strengthened, including penalties for covered entities committing spending above their allotments and allocations.

Again, the human resources information system (HRMIS), the bank clearing system (GHIPSS), and GRA’s tax portals will be integrated with GIFMIS.

It stated that the automatic bank reconciliation (ABR) functionality for GIFMIS-linked accounts will be rolled out, and the chart of accounts will be standardised if needed.

The second tranche of disbursement would be expected by December 2023.

This is however subject to meeting some conditions under the programme.

The remaining amount will be disbursed in tranches of $360 million every six months, subject to meeting the IMF programme conditions.