Ghana’s economy expanded by 7.5 percent in January 2026 compared to the same month a year earlier, according to provisional data released on Wednesday by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), sustaining the economy’s growth trajectory even as the pace moderated from the 8.2 percent recorded in January 2025.
The Monthly Indicator of Economic Growth (MIEG) index, a high-frequency measure that tracks monthly economic activity and serves as an early signal for quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) trends, rose to 119.2 in January 2026 from 110.8 in January 2025. The index has climbed steadily from 98.7 in January 2023 and 102.5 in January 2024, reflecting cumulative improvement in economic conditions over the period.
Growth was recorded across all three main sectors, though the pace was uneven. Services led the expansion, growing 9.6 percent compared to 7.7 percent in January 2025, driven by increased activity in the education as well as information and communication sub-sectors. The services sector contributed 54.3 percent of the 7.5 percent overall growth, underlining its dominant and expanding role in Ghana’s economic structure.
Industry posted growth of 7.2 percent, a slowdown from 9.7 percent a year earlier, with weaker momentum in oil and gas within the mining and quarrying sub-sector acting as a drag, though manufacturing activity continued to support expansion. The sector accounted for 29 percent of total growth.
Agriculture recorded the softest performance, expanding by 4.5 percent against 9.3 percent in January 2025. Crops and livestock drove activity within the sector, but the sharp deceleration from a year earlier points to reduced momentum in what remains a critical sector for employment and food supply. Agriculture contributed 14 percent to overall growth.
Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu noted that the strong performance in services underscores its dominant role in Ghana’s economic structure, while acknowledging that the uneven pattern across sectors merits attention.
The GSS cautioned that the January 2026 MIEG figures are provisional and subject to revision as more comprehensive data becomes available. Because the index is not seasonally adjusted, only year-on-year comparisons are published. The next MIEG release, covering February 2026, is scheduled for May 13, 2026.
