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Govt to settle GH¢29bn DDEP principal, US$590m Eurobond by December

Government plans to repay GH¢29 billion in Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) principal and a US$590 million Eurobond obligation before the end of 2026, ahead of their respective 2027 maturity dates.

The planned payments, together worth more than GH¢36 billion, are intended to ease the government’s debt repayment obligations next year.

 

Presenting the 2027 Budget to Parliament on Thursday, November 12, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson said the Cedi Sinking Fund had accumulated GH¢29 billion as of November 11, sufficient to cover the DDEP principal falling due on February 16, 2027.

He announced an early redemption offer, effective November 12, inviting holders of the February 2027 DDEP bonds to collect their principal ahead of maturity.

Government is, however, still building additional buffers to meet the GH¢11.1 billion interest payment due on the same date.

The February payment forms part of GH¢53 billion in DDEP obligations scheduled for 2027. A further GH¢12.5 billion falls due in August, comprising GH¢3.3 billion in principal and GH¢9.2 billion in interest.

“To holders of the february 2027 ddep bonds, this early redemption offer is there for you, and i invite you to take it. I repeat, to every ddep bondholder whose bond falls due in february 2027, hear me clearly: your cash is ready. come for your money. Now to every other ddep bondholder, hear me clearly: every cedi owed to you, principal and interest, will be paid in full and on time”, the Minister said.

For its external debt obligations, Dr. Forson said the US Dollar Sinking Fund held US$480 million as of November 11.

Government expects the balance to rise to about US$600 million by December to support the US$590 million Eurobond payment due on January 2, 2027.

Another US$580 million in Eurobond obligations falls due on July 2, 2027.

The Finance Minister said government had paid GH¢41.36 billion to DDEP bondholders since 2025, while payments to Eurobond holders over the same period had reached US$2.1 billion.

He assured investors that all outstanding principal and interest obligations would be honoured in full and on time.

The planned early repayments form part of government’s efforts to manage the concentration of debt maturities in 2027. Their completion will depend on the execution of the announced redemption offer and the availability of the required funds.

Dr. Forson also said government was introducing financing and borrowing reforms to prevent a recurrence of the debt crisis that necessitated the restructuring.

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