Ghana is ending 2025 in the 4th place in Africa with the highest debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The country’s exposure to the IMF stood at Special Drawing Rights 2.85 billion as of 22nd December 2025.
This is equivalent to US$4.13 billion.
Ghana recently received US$365 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the fifth tranche of an IMF bailout package signed in 2022. This is expected to increase the country’s indebtedness to the Bretton Woods institution.
Egypt placed first in Africa with the highest outstanding loan to the IMF. Its total exposure to the Fund is estimated at SDR 6.58 billion.
It is followed by Cote d’lvoire (SDR 3.63 billion) and Kenya (SDR 2.95 billion) in 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
The IMF loans provide temporary relief to member countries, while also leading to a potentially troublesome debt.
A high level of IMF borrowing increases a country’s overall debt, a situation that requires prudent fiscal management.
The loans often come with conditions, placing further constraints on the government’s financial flexibility.
Ghana’s public debt rose by GH¢71.6 billion in the third quarter of 2025, pushing the total debt stock to GH¢684.6 billion ($55.1 billion) as of September 2025.