US lawmaker urges IMF to direct next Ghana disbursement towards settling debts owed to American firms

Brian Mast, Chair of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, has urged the IMF to allocate part of Ghana’s next bailout directly to settle debts owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), including firms linked to US pension funds and taxpayers.

In a letter to the US Treasury Secretary, Mast criticised Ghana’s failure to honour financial commitments under its IMF programme, warning of damage to investor confidence and energy stability.

He questioned the Mahama administration’s seriousness, calling ring-fencing proposals mere “talking points.” Despite recent payments by ECG to Twin City Energy and Early Power, Mast says they fall short and could worsen the sector’s crisis.

He wants the IMF’s next disbursement, expected after a review in April, to be conditioned on full IPP arrears settlement.