Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa covering President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. government, UN, IMF, World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington and New York.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Cameroonian authorities have reached staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the third review of the program under the ECF and EFF arrangements, IMF announced in a statement on Monday, saying that Cameroon will have access to about US$74.6 million in financing once the review is formally completed by the IMF Executive Board in early March 2023.
More broadly, the Fund said that the economic recovery is underway in Cameroon and that growth, which was estimated at 3.4 percent in 2022, is projected to reach 4.3 percent in 2023.
According to the IMF, Cameroonian authorities have “recognized the need to reduce fuel subsidies to create fiscal space for productive investment and social spending and are committed to accelerating structural reforms.”
The latest agreement between Cameroon and the IMF came after an IMF team, led by Cemile Sancak, IMF Mission Chief for Cameroon, visited Yaoundé from January 5-18 and held virtual meetings from January 19-27 to discuss the progress made on reforms and the authorities’ policy priorities in the context of the third review of the program supported by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangements.
“The mission has reached staff-level agreement with the Cameroonian authorities on the economic and financial policies that could support the approval of the third review of the program under the ECF and EFF arrangements. Conclusion of the third review by the IMF Executive Board scheduled in early March 2023 would enable the disbursement of SDR 55.2 million (about US$74.6 million),” Ms. Sancak said following the visit.
She added, “Cameroon proved resilient to the COVID-19 shock. Following an increase of 3.6 percent in 2021, real GDP growth is expected to remain stable at 3.4 percent in 2022. Headline inflation is expected to reach 6 percent at end-2022, mainly driven by food prices due to higher import costs as well as domestic supply pressures.
“However, Cameroon is now facing increased challenges in an uncertain global environment. The recovery is subject to greater risks with spillovers from Russia’s war in Ukraine, including inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions, and a tightening of global financial conditions. Prolonged shortages and high prices of fertilizers have raised food security challenges. The mission welcomed the authorities’ efforts to ensure adequate supplies of fertilizer for the harvest, supported by the World Bank and African Development Bank.
“The overall fiscal deficit is expected to decline to 1.7 percent of GDP in 2022, supported by continued recovery, higher oil prices, and non-oil tax revenue. The performance of non-oil tax revenue should offset the increase in current spending mainly from higher fuel subsidies, which are estimated to reach CFAF 800 billion (2.9 percent of GDP) in 2022. The public debt-to-GDP ratio is estimated at 46.3 percent at end-2022.
“The economic outlook for 2023 is favorable though subject to considerable downside risks, especially from the external economic environment. Economic growth is expected to accelerate to 4.3 percent in 2023 while inflation is projected to remain at about 6 percent at end-2023.
“The authorities expressed their continued commitment to maintaining macroeconomic stability and to further reducing the non-oil primary fiscal deficit to 2.2 percent of GDP to contain public debt at 43 percent of GDP in 2023. To make room for productive investment and social spending, the authorities agreed on the need to further mobilize domestic non-oil revenues through widening the tax base. Furthermore, they recognized the need to reduce the costly fuel subsidies, which are unsustainable under the current international oil price projections and are poorly targeted to those in need and crowd out priority spending. For example, the fuel subsidies represent six times the budget allocated to agriculture, four times that to health, and over three times that to energy and water. Fuel subsidy reform would need to be accompanied by measures to mitigate the impact on the most vulnerable, including cash transfers.
“The medium-term prospects remain favorable provided reforms continue. The authorities’ strategy remains focused on unlocking Cameroon’s growth potential by creating fiscal space for priority spending, especially for infrastructure that would support the growth needed to meet the SND30 objectives while maintaining debt management. To this end, the pace of structural reforms needs to be sharply accelerated, including a concerted effort to improve the business climate for private sector to underpin inclusive and resilient growth. A review of tax policy to mobilize domestic non-oil revenues and broaden the tax base remains a high priority. The mission noted the progress, albeit slow, in strengthening public financial management, and further efforts are needed to ensure disciplined budget execution and to complete major infrastructure projects, especially in the transport and energy sectors. It also noted the need for continued progress in the financial management of public enterprises and the rehabilitation of SONARA. The mission welcomed the important steps to strengthen transparency and governance, especially the Supreme Court’s Audit Bench.
“The mission noted the authorities’ commitment to implementing policies consistent with the stability of the CEMAC region’s monetary arrangement, which includes rebuilding foreign reserves at the Bank of Central African States (BEAC). To this end, the authorities are working to strengthen compliance with the foreign exchange regulations notably regarding the repatriation of export earnings, while not impeding legitimate payments overseas.”
“The IMF team met with the Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute, the Minister of State and Secretary General of the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze, the Minister of the Economy, Planning, and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey, the National Director of the BEAC, Emmanuel Nkoa Ayissi, and other senior officials. The mission also met with representatives of development partners, the diplomatic community, the private sector, civil society, and unions.”
