Gov’t pays GH¢10.8bn DDEP coupon to bondholders in full

The Government of Ghana has paid GH¢10.82 billion to bondholders under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), reinforcing its commitment to servicing restructured domestic debt obligations.

The payment, amounting to GH¢10,816,840,318.26, was announced by the Ministry of Finance and brings the total amount paid to DDEP bondholders since 2025 to GH¢41.36 billion.

The latest payment was made on schedule and represents the third DDEP coupon payment to be settled entirely in cash, according to the Ministry.

The payment follows an assurance by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson during the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review that government would honour the coupon payment due on August 18, 2026.

The Minister said the payment formed part of government's broader commitment to meeting its obligations under the domestic debt restructuring programme.

The latest disbursement is also expected to help strengthen confidence among investors and creditors following Ghana's recent debt crisis.

According to the Ministry of Finance, timely debt servicing will help reduce Ghana's sovereign default risk and reinforce the country's financial credibility.

The Domestic Debt Exchange Programme was introduced as part of Ghana's efforts to restore debt sustainability and stabilise the country's public finances.

The programme involved the restructuring of domestic bonds held by banks, pension funds, insurance companies, individual investors and other creditors.

Government has consistently maintained that meeting coupon payments under the restructured programme is critical to rebuilding investor confidence and supporting Ghana's efforts to regain access to international capital markets.

The latest GH¢10.82 billion payment adds to previous coupon payments made since the implementation of the DDEP.

Dr Ato Forson previously disclosed that government successfully completed its first DDEP coupon payment of GH¢10.1 billion on February 17, 2026, with the obligation settled fully and on schedule.

The Finance Minister also disclosed during the Mid-Year Budget Review that Ghana had paid US$2.1 billion in principal and interest to Eurobond holders since January 2025.

According to Dr Forson, the payments were made without putting undue pressure on the country's foreign exchange reserves.

He argued that consistent repayment of Ghana's debt obligations would be more important in restoring investor confidence than assurances alone.

The government has therefore positioned timely debt servicing as a key component of its broader economic recovery programme.

The latest DDEP payment comes as Ghana continues efforts to rebuild its fiscal credibility following the severe debt crisis that led to the restructuring of a significant portion of the country's domestic debt.

The government has maintained that meeting its obligations under the restructured debt programme will help restore confidence among domestic investors and international creditors.

The Ministry of Finance said the latest payment demonstrates government's commitment to honouring its obligations and strengthening the credibility of Ghana's debt management framework.

As the country continues its fiscal consolidation programme, regular and timely debt servicing is expected to remain central to efforts to restore debt sustainability and improve Ghana's position in international financial markets.