World Bank Raises Ghana’s 2026 Growth to 4.8%
The World Bank has revised upward Ghana’s economic growth outlook for 2026, increasing its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) projection by 0.2 percentage points to 4.8 percent, according to its June 2026 Global Economic Prospects report.
The updated forecast reflects improved expectations for Ghana’s macroeconomic performance, even as the country transitions from a strong post-crisis recovery phase into what the Bank describes as a more sustainable medium-term growth path.
Despite the upward revision, the World Bank notes that Ghana’s projected 2026 growth will moderate significantly compared to the estimated 6.0 percent expansion recorded in 2025. The slowdown, it said, is consistent with a broader stabilisation of economic activity following recent recovery gains.
The report indicates that Ghana’s growth outlook remains relatively strong within the region, with the country expected to outperform the Sub-Saharan African average growth rate of 4.0 percent in 2026.
Looking further ahead, the World Bank has also revised Ghana’s medium-term projections slightly upward, increasing its 2027 forecast to 4.9 percent from the earlier estimate of 4.8 percent. Growth is expected to improve further to 5.0 percent in 2028, suggesting a gradual strengthening of economic momentum over the medium term.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Bank projects economic growth to ease to 4.0 percent in 2026 before recovering to an average of 4.4 percent between 2027 and 2028. However, it warned that external shocks, particularly geopolitical tensions, continue to pose risks to the region’s outlook.
According to the report, the 2026 forecast for Sub-Saharan Africa has been revised downward by 0.3 percentage points since January 2026, largely due to the anticipated impact of ongoing geopolitical conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, which are expected to outweigh the effects of structural reforms and recent trade agreements supporting investment and exports.
The World Bank further noted that real per capita GDP growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to remain at 1.6 percent in 2026 before improving to an average of 2 percent annually between 2027 and 2028. However, it cautioned that this growth trajectory remains insufficient to drive significant reductions in extreme poverty across the region.
It also warned that job creation continues to lag behind population growth, with Sub-Saharan Africa expected to have the world’s fastest-growing labour force by 2030, raising concerns about employment pressures and the need for stronger private sector-led growth.
Overall, the report underscores a cautiously optimistic outlook for Ghana, supported by relative macroeconomic stability, but highlights the need for sustained reforms to translate growth into meaningful development outcomes.
