Gold for Reserves losses should be in the national budget – IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recommended that Ghana places the losses incurred in its Gold for Reserves (G4R) programme on the balance sheet of the Budget, instead of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) absorbing such costs.

“We strongly recommend that the losses should be brought on the national balance sheet rather than being held on the balance sheet of the Central Bank,” Ms Julie Kozack, Director of the Communications Department of the IMF, said on Thursday.

During a press briefing monitored by the Ghana News Agency, she called for transparency, strengthening of governance and risk management, especially for the Gold Board (GoldBod) linked channel under the domestic gold purchase programme.

The IMF has said the country in 2025 recorded $214 million losses through end of quarter three losses from the artisanal and small-scale (ASM) doré gold transactions component of the Gold for Reserves programmes stemming from trading activities, fees, and exchange rate movements.

This has resulted in concerns with the Governor of the Central Bank calling for a national response to address the losses and improve efficiency, while the government took on the cost incurred under the programme.

Ms Kozack explained that bringing the losses onto the national budget balance sheet was because, “it’s important to ensure that the Bank of Ghana remains well-positioned to deliver on its key price stability mandates.”

“So, it’s about moving something that is quasi fiscal onto the budget balance sheet. So, it’s transparent and ensures that the Bank of Ghana is able to deliver on its mandate,” she said.

She said the IMF Staff Report for the country’s Fifth Review showed that the G4R programme contributed to buildup of international reserves and reduced pressure on the foreign exchange market “during a difficult period for Ghana.”

Speaking about the performance of the country’s ongoing $3 billion loan-supported programme, Ms Kozack said the Board approved a three-month extension to at allow for sufficient time to complete the final review.

That included an assessment of data for the end of 2025 and the end of the first quarter of 2026. Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, said the G4R programme remained relevant for the country.

“The scheme was introduced to solve national problems. The question now is how to reform it and make it more efficient,” he said, adding that the Bank had already reduced some charges and was pursuing additional reforms.

“The Gold for Reserves programme is still relevant. Its objective is to build reserves. Evidence shows that it is not a matter of shutting it down but rather enhancing efficiency and removing inefficiencies,” he said.

Source: GNA

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