News
Ghana announces successful completion of Debt Restructuring
The Government of the Republic of Ghana is pleased to announce that Ghana is back on the international financial markets after successfully completing the transaction of restructuring $13 billion in Eurobonds today.
On June 24, the Ad Hoc Group of International Bondholders and the Republic of Ghana reached an agreement in principle for restructuring the outstanding Eurobonds.
The agreement was approved by the International Monetary Fund as compatible with the programme parameters and met the comparability of treatment requirements of the Official Creditor Committee for Ghana.
On September 5, with the backing of the Committee of Holders of the Republic of Ghana’s Eurobonds, the Republic of Ghana launched a consent solicitation for its proposal to all bondholders. Today, the transaction has been concluded, with over 90% of bondholders voting in favour of the deal.
The settlement and delivery of the new debt instruments are scheduled for October 9, 2024, after the World Bank longstop date on October 7, 2024. On this date, old bonds will be exchanged for new securities under the revised terms. On or before 30 October 2024, World Bank payments will be executed. More details on technical processes following the Issue Date, including related to the holding period, can be found here.
“Today, our economy has turned a corner. This landmark achievement ushers in a new phase of economic recovery, returning Ghana to a sustainable debt path and putting us back on the investor map. We’ve accomplished what everyone said was impossible – we decisively resolved Ghana’s debt overhang problem. This will allow Ghana to stabilise our finances and focus all our efforts on continuing the implementation of the ambitious reform program to improve the well-being of the Ghanaian people. We are thankful to our bondholders, the IMF and our official creditors for their support and collaborative engagement to arrive at this solution,” his Excellency President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, stated.
“Today’s completion of the restructuring will help Ghana restore debt sustainability, reducing the debt stock by $4.7 billion and providing cash flow relief of approximately $4.4 billion in the next two years. The deal is already positively influencing our macro-financial situation. The increasing market confidence in Ghana and our economic trajectory has significantly reduced the inflation rate. Our growth projections are also more positive – Q2 of 2024 saw the highest quarterly GDP growth recorded in the past five years, at 6.9%. Our government takes pride in this progress and remains committed to advancing our reform agenda and attracting new investment to foster growth and job creation,” Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning of Ghana, said.
The Government further extended sincere gratitude to the Steering Committee of the Ad Hoc Creditor Committee of International Bondholders and their advisors, Rothschild & Co and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, as well as the Steering Committee of the Creditor Committee of Regional Bondholders and their advisors, Renaissance Capital Africa, for their productive and consistent engagement throughout the process.
They added, “We thank our advisors Lazard Frères and Hogan Lovells, acting respectively as financial and legal advisors, and Algest, acting as a strategic advisor, for supporting the Republic of Ghana during this debt restructuring.”
News
Enoch Boateng to host spirit-filled worship experience
All roads lead to the Word Arena Chapel International, as Enoch Boateng Ministries lead worshippers to the throne room tomorrow at Dansoman in Accra.
Dubbed ‘Let Judah Rise,’ it aims to uplift the spirit of attendees, ignite faith and create an atmosphere of deep worship.
In an interview with The Spectator Agoro, the UK-based artiste who doubles as a pastor said the first edition which was held in Oda in the Eastern Region was super and promises attendees that this year’s edition would be mind-blowing and full of miracles.
He stated that special guests ministering in songs include Joshua Ahenkorah, the soulful Efe Grace, and Benny Brooks.
Pastor Enoch Boateng has since extended invitation to everyone to come and experience God’s presence in a unique way.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
News
Fusing politics with fashion
Ghanaians, especially die-hard sympathisers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) trooped to the Black Stars Square to be part of history.
The occasion was the historical return of Mr John Dramani Mahama as president of Ghana and Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as vice president.
President Mahama was coming to the office of the president for the second time while Prof. Opoku- Agyemang was sworn-in as the first female Vice President.
The party sympathisers marked the occasion in style, appearing in fashionable dresses designed with party paraphernalia.
To make the electoral feat remarkable, they appeared in special shirts, jerseys, cloths in party colours, not leaving out the vuvuzelas.
Boldly inscribed in these attires were symbols of the NDC and Ghana.
The event also brought to the fore the typical Ghanaian hospitality, entertaining a couple of guests that came to witness the event
By Victor A. Buxton