Ghana's economy rebounds as Mahama urges discipline

Ghana's economy is staging a strong recovery, growing 6.4% in the first quarter of 2026, as President John Mahama urged citizens to protect the gains through discipline and unity.

The growth figure, published by the statistical service, was up from 6.2% a year earlier and extended a rebound since Mahama took office in January 2025. Inflation, which had exceeded 23% in 2024, has fallen back to single digits, while foreign-exchange reserves have strengthened.

Speaking at a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, Mahama said the recovery had been built on discipline and must now be sustained by integrity, protected by justice and strengthened by national unity. He also acknowledged recent floods that claimed lives and destroyed property.

The turnaround marks a notable shift for a country that had been forced to seek an international bailout amid a debt crisis, and whose gold and oil exports have helped underpin the recovery.

Mahama cautioned that the hardest part of the recovery lies ahead, with the government seeking to consolidate stability while addressing unemployment and the cost of living. The performance has nonetheless offered a rare bright spot among West African economies navigating global headwinds.