Government to borrow ¢22.7bn within next 3 months – Finance Ministry

Government will borrow an amount of ¢22.7 billion within the next three months, beginning this month.

According to the Bank of Ghana issuance calendar, ¢19 billion will, however, be used to settle principal and interest of existing loans.

Another ¢3.05 billion, which will be in fresh issuance will be used to finance government projects.

Out of the total amount to be raised, ¢9.2 billion which is the highest amount, will be issued via a 91-day Treasury bill, the calendar shows.

Some ¢287 million which is the lowest amount to be raised will be issued through a 20-year bond. The 20-year bond will be issued in November.

According to the Finance Ministry, the 91-day and 182-day Treasury bills will be issued every week, whiles the one year Treasury note will be issued every fortnight.

This will, however, be done through the primary auction with settlement being the transaction date plus one working day. Securities of two-year up to seven-year will, however, be issued through the book-building method.

The additional ¢3 billion will add to government’s total debt of ¢255 billion, about $45 billion as of the end of June.

Too much debt

Despite covid-19 pandemic, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have expressed worry about the quantum of money being borrowed by the country.

Ratings agency, Fitch, recently warned Ghana that its sovereign cerdit ratings may be downgraded to negative if large fiscal deficit and public debt are not addressed.

In its review of the economy which was done in August, it said the nation’s pursue of fiscal consolidation which will be slow than earlier anticipated may lead to a higher public debt trajectory and could be a source of downward pressure on the country’s ratings.