Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has warned that weak and unstable markets pose a major threat to economic growth, stressing that countries cannot achieve sustainable prosperity without strong institutions, ethical leadership and public trust.
Speaking at the 2026 ACI World Congress in Accra on Friday, May 22, the Vice President said resilient economies are built on credible markets that operate with competence, accountability and integrity.
“We cannot build strong economies on weak markets. Resilient markets cannot be built without trust and trust cannot exist without competence, ethics and robust institutions,” she stated.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said strengthening markets requires empowering all players within the economic system, including regulators, investors, businesses and consumers.
“To elevate markets, we must empower people who build, regulate, participate and depend on them,” she said.
Her remarks come amid continuing global economic uncertainty driven by inflation, debt pressures and geopolitical instability, which continue to affect developing economies across the world.
According to the Vice President, many countries are still struggling to recover from multiple global shocks that have disrupted trade, investment flows and economic planning.
“The world is still adjusting to the aftershocks of inflation, higher interest rates, sovereign debt pressures, geopolitical tensions, climate risk, supply chain shifts and rapid technological disruption,” she noted.
She explained that emerging and frontier markets remain particularly vulnerable to these developments, with direct consequences for exchange rates, trade finance, debt sustainability and the overall cost of capital.
“For emerging and frontier markets, these changes affect exchange rates, fiscal planning, trade finance, portfolio flows, debt sustainability and the cost of capital,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang added that the effects of global economic instability extend beyond governments and financial systems, directly impacting businesses and households.
“They shape business investment capacities, government planning and the ability of households to live with dignity,” she stressed.
The Vice President’s address highlighted growing concerns over the resilience of emerging economies as governments across the world seek ways to strengthen institutions, restore investor confidence and shield citizens from worsening global economic pressures.
