Audio By Carbonatix
Ghana has cleared a key hurdle to restructure its international bonds, as its official creditors confirmed the proposed debt rework was not overly favourable to bondholders.
"The Ministry ... has received a formal confirmation from its Official Creditor Committee (OCC) that the Agreement in Principle reached with representatives of Eurobond holders is consistent with the Comparability of Treatment principle," Ghana's Finance Ministry said in a statement on Monday.
"Comparability of Treatment" is a principle from the Paris Club of wealthy creditor nations aimed at ensuring its members do not give outsized concessions compared to private lenders or others outside the group.
A Paris Club spokesperson confirmed the OCC had found Ghana's bond restructuring deal gave comparable treatment to different types of creditor.
Leeuwner Esterhuysen, economist at Oxford Economics Africa, said the green light from official creditors meant Ghana could soon issue new bonds to investors to replace the ones being restructured.
"The country aims to begin the bond exchange this month still and conclude it by the end of September," he said.
Ghana had in January reached a deal to restructure $5.4 billion of loans with its Official Creditor Committee, including China and France, which co-chair the group.
The country clinched an agreement in principle with two bondholder groups to restructure around $13 billion of its international bonds in late June, making it the second African country after Zambia in recent weeks to reach the final stages of a debt overhaul.
The government now needs to ask all its bondholders to vote on the proposed deal, which if confirmed would finalise the debt rework.
The West African gold and cocoa producer defaulted on most of its $30 billion in external debt in 2022, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and higher global interest rates exacerbated years of overstretched borrowing.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana High Commission to UK steps in as stranded musician Barosky considers returning home
40 minutes -
Health service support centres to give patients in 3 West African countries a stronger voice in healthcare
2 hours -
Akufo-Addo mourns late Ya-Naa Abukari II at Gbewaa Palace
2 hours -
The Mother’s secret: How Eni Akonobea turned motherhood into a philosophy for flourishing
3 hours -
JoySports Invitational 2026: Corporate Ghana wraps up a day of thrilling sporting action at Legon
4 hours -
Rotary Club of Accra-Airport, SCEF donate school supplies to over 200 street-connected children
4 hours -
NPP begins vetting of 47 national officer aspirants Monday
4 hours -
BoG inaugurates committee to probe seized foreign currency at Ghana’s borders
4 hours -
NPP internal elections: 47 out of 50 aspirants file nominations; three bow out
5 hours -
Fix Tema Port, roads to cut logistics costs and boost trade — Oro Oil CEO, Maxwell Commey
5 hours -
Undeclared forex undermines financial intelligence, formal market – BoG Governor
5 hours -
GIPA CEO calls for stronger coordination to provide a clearer picture of investment activity
6 hours -
Afenyo-Markin’s lawyers reject claims he is avoiding service on Sammy Gyamfi
6 hours -
Photos: Mahama swears in Ayariga, Zanetor as new Ministers
6 hours -
Check out the list of 100 universities not recognised by GTEC as of August 2026
6 hours