EVENTS
September 24, 2019
A team from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS Ghana) has attended the 4th African Network of Parliamentary Budget Officers (AN-PBO) C0nference, dubbed The Role of African Parliaments in Fiscal Oversight: Contributing to the African Union 2063 Development Agenda, which was held from 9th to 12th September 2019, at the Parliament of Ghana. The team presented on the topic Understanding Economic and Fiscal Forecast: Key Elements to Consider, led by Mr. Leslie Mensah, an Economist and Research Fellow at the Institute. The presentation sought to explore tools and approaches that may be used by Parliamentary Budget Officers to verify economic […]
August 6, 2019
On Monday July 29, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, presented the mid-year review of the 2019 budget statement and fiscal policy to Parliament. Notable fiscal policy changes that were announced include energy and communication tax hikes and a request to spend more money (supplementary expenditure estimates) relative to the initial 2019 budget appropriation. Prior to the mid-year budget, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) had reviewed the economy’s performance and provided recommendations to the government to address challenges identified. In what follows, we assess the notable developments in the mid-year review and make further recommendations to safeguard fiscal stability, which […]
July 2, 2019
IFS National Pension Dialogue In 2006, Ghana began a review of its pension system to identify ways of ensuring better income security for Ghanaian pensioners. The review culminated in the enactment of a new National Pension Act (Act 766) in 2008. The law establishes a new contributory three-tier pension scheme and a regulatory oversight body, the National Pension Regulatory Authority (NPRA), to oversee administration of the composite pension scheme. Under the law, which remains in force today, 13.5% of an employee’s basic salary is paid to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) comprising 13% contributed by the employer […]
November 7, 2018
A ten-member delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Burkina Faso has called on the Institute for Fiscal Studies IFS to gather first-hand knowledge and best practices in Ghana. The purpose of the visit was to deepen the understanding of the delegation on the role civil society organizations play in ensuring effective monitoring and assessment of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in Ghana. Professor Newman Kusi, Executive Director of IFS in his welcome address to the delegation explained IFS’ work in promoting a better understanding of the Ghanaian economy and government finances in particular for the benefit of the […]
April 6, 2017
1.0 Introduction The Institute for Fiscal Studies, IFS, held its annual Pre-Budget Forum for 2017 at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Monday, 13th February 2017 under the theme: “Towards a Healthy National Budget”. The forum was attended by about 100 participants from diverse stakeholder organizations. These included: Members of the Finance Committee of Parliament; representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies; World Bank, IMF, USAID and other development partner organizations; Bank of Ghana; High Commissions and Embassies; Civil Society Organizations; the business community; and other stakeholder groups. Seated at the high table were Hon. Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, the Founder and […]