Ghana’s recent macroeconomic gains may not be translating into real improvements for citizens, with the economy appearing “strong on paper” but weak in lived experience, economistProf Isaac Boadi has said.

Boadi pointed to sharp improvements in inflation, which fell from over 21 percent to about 3.4 percent within a year, alongside declining debt ratios and stronger reserves.

However, he argued that these gains have not eased cost-of-living pressures, highlighting a disconnect between headline indicators and household realities.

“If you check all these indicators, it tells you that on paper you look good. But if you check the cost of living for individuals, that is where the real paradox is found,” he said on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (25 May).

He partly agreed with critics who argue that Ghana’s programme with the International Monetary Fund has stabilised macroeconomic metrics without sufficiently addressing structural weaknesses.

Boadi urged authorities to prioritise long-delayed reforms flagged by the IMF, particularly those aimed at boosting domestic production and foreign exchange generation.