Government pays GH¢10.8bn DDEP coupon in full, pushing total settlements to GH¢41.36bn

The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Finance, has disbursed GH¢10.82 billion (GH¢10,816,840,318.26) to bondholders under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).

According to an official press statement issued by the ministry, the payment represents the third consecutive DDEP coupon obligation settled entirely in cash, fulfilled in full and strictly on schedule.

This disbursement brings the total cumulative amount paid to DDEP bondholders since 2025 to GH¢41.36 billion.

The Ministry emphasized that fulfilling this debt service commitment indicates the government’s fiscal discipline and commitment to honouring all sovereign financial obligations.

"The payment will strengthen investor confidence, reduce Ghana’s sovereign default risk, and reinforce the country’s financial credibility," the statement noted, adding that all subsequent DDEP obligations will continue to be paid in full and on schedule.

This timely disbursement validates assurances provided by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, during the presentation of the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on July 23, 2026.

In his address, Dr. Forson pledged that the seventh DDEP coupon settlement—due August 18, 2026—would be paid without delay.

The latest coupon disbursement follows earlier coupon settlements, including a GH¢10.1 billion payment executed on February 17, 2026, and a GH¢9.7 billion coupon payment completed in August 2025.

The Domestic Debt Exchange Programme was initiated in early 2023 to restore public debt sustainability under Ghana's economic recovery strategy. Following the restructuring of domestic bonds held by commercial banks, pension funds, insurance companies, and retail investors, the government has consistently met its coupon obligations.

The timely execution of these debt payments aligns with the expiration of domestic bond issuance restrictions earlier in March 2026, allowing the government to gradually shift away from short-term Treasury bills toward longer-dated domestic debt instruments.

Supported by stabilizing macroeconomic indicators, lower inflation, and improved reserve buffers, the Ministry assured institutional and individual investors that Ghana’s financial credibility remains firm.

SOURCE:3NEWS