Central bank holds benchmark interest rate at 26.0 pct

Ghana's central bank held its benchmark policy rate at 26.0 percent on Monday as expected, citing moderation in the pace of consumer inflation, its governor Henry Kofi Wampah said.

The West African nation is following a three-year aid program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The plan is to restore fiscal balance to an economy dogged by high fiscal deficits and a distressing public debt, with consumer inflation consistently above government target.