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G/A Catholic Education Unit holds Nine Lessons and Carols
SS Peter and Paul Catholic School singing a christmas Carol
The Catholic Education Unit of the Greater Accra region has held its Nine Lessons and Carols at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School at Weija Gbawe in Accra on Friday. Themed ‘Hope is Born,’ the event was aimed at remembering and celebrating the birth of Christ and extending their appreciation to God for seeing the school through the year.
The host choirs – Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School Donkuna Estate, St Faustina B/C Basic School N. Amanfrom, St Jude R/C Basic School, New Weija and Saint Joseph the Worker/C Basic School, Weija entertained the audience with their renditions of various carols.
There was choreography, dance, poetry recitation and drama by the pupils which were focused on the birth of Jesus while each Bible reading was interspersed with soothing hymns and melodies.
In her welcome address, the Headmistress of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School, Mrs Vera Appiah called on Christians to be compassionate and love one another.
She said, “Christmas is a celebration that everyone looks forward to make the year complete and also thank God for giving them such great opportunity. As we sing the beautiful carols, let us all embrace this opportunity to come together to celebrate and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.”
The Chairman for the occasion, Mr Ignatius Ekow Arthur stated that the country was in difficult times hence the need to seek the face of God for salvation.
Rev Dr Vitalist Naamah, an Assisting Priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School also encouraged Christians to continue to live in peace with one another.
On her part, Araba Ahima Bentum , the General Manager of Catholic Schools, Ghana told Christians to continue to reflect on the goodness of God while showing love, kindness and compassion to the needy.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
News
Ghana achieves 98% participation in Eurobond debt restructuring
The Ministry of Finance has announced the successful completion of its Eurobond debt exchange and consent solicitation process.
The initiative, which aims to restructure Ghana’s Eurobond debt, has received overwhelming support from bondholders, marking a significant milestone in the country’s economic recovery efforts.
Launched on September 5, 2024, the offer invited eligible holders of Ghana’s Eurobonds to exchange their existing bonds for new ones under two menu options—Par and Disco.
As of the final expiration deadline on September 30, 2024, 98.6% of bondholders, representing the recognized principal amount of the existing bonds, participated in the offer.
During the bondholder meetings on Thursday, October 3, holders of the 2013, 2014, and 2015 WB-Guaranteed Notes passed extraordinary resolutions with over 90% representation, enabling the restructuring process to proceed smoothly.
Meanwhile, for Aggregated CAC Notes, consents exceeded 98.7%, meeting the required thresholds for the exchange.
A majority of bondholders (91% of the principal amount) opted for the Disco menu of new notes, while 7.6% chose the Par menu, which remained under its cap of U.S. $1.6 billion, leaving a balance of U.S. $605 million available for future allocation.
Subject to the terms of the exchange, a total of U.S. $126 million in consent fees will be distributed to eligible bondholders who submitted their instructions by the early consent deadline.
The new bonds are expected to be issued on or around October 9, 2024, with full settlement to follow shortly thereafter.
The successful completion of this exchange is a critical step in Ghana’s broader debt restructuring efforts under its International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, further strengthening the country’s path towards debt sustainability and normalizing relations with international capital markets.
The Government of Ghana expressed gratitude to bondholders for their participation and support, emphasizing that this successful outcome reflects a shared commitment to restoring the country’s economic stability.
In preparation for the issue date, all existing Eurobonds, including those for which no consent or exchange instructions were given, will be blocked from trading to ensure a smooth final settlement.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
News
Update on Nana Asante Bediatuo’s health
The Office of the President has responded to news making rounds regarding the health of Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo.
According to the office in a statement, they wish to inform the public about the health status of Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary to the President.
They revealed that following the conclusion of the meeting of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, in the United States of America, where he served as a key member of President Akufo-Addo’s delegation.
The statement added that Nana Bediatuo Asante stayed behind to conduct further government business.
They added that he then began to feel unwell, and was subsequently admitted to hospital.
According to the statement, he is currently in stable condition and responding well to treatment. The medical team added that, Nana Bediatuo Asante’s recovery is on track, and we remain hopeful for his swift return to full strength.
“We ask for continued prayers and support for him and his family during this difficult period. Further updates will be provided when necessary,” he concluded.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
