President John Mahama has instructed the Ministry of Finance to pay all outstanding Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) coupons and set aside funds for future payments using the Sinking Fund.

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Following this directive, the Ministry of Finance released GH₵6.081 billion in cash to DDEP bondholders on Monday, February 17. In addition, GH₵3.46 billion was credited to bondholders’ securities accounts as part of a Payment-In-Kind (PIK) arrangement, following the terms of the DDEP agreement.

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To improve debt management, the government also deposited GH₵9.7 billion into the Debt Service Recovery Cedi Account, also known as the Sinking Fund. This money will help cover the next five DDEP coupon payments scheduled for July and August 2025.

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President Mahama assured Ghanaians that his administration remains committed to meeting all DDEP obligations and rebuilding trust in the economy.

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He added that the 2025 Budget Statement will introduce new steps to promote responsible financial management, prioritize key expenses, and improve transparency in government spending.

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Despite the economic difficulties inherited from the previous government, the administration is working to stabilize the cedi, reduce inflation, and create jobs.

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Through careful financial planning, Mahama’s government aims to restore economic stability and ensure that public funds are used efficiently.

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About DDEPThe Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) is an initiative by the Government of Ghana aimed at restructuring the country's domestic debt to ensure long-term macroeconomic stability.

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The DDEP concluded successfully with the issuance and settlement of new bonds, which have now been listed to serve as the new benchmark securities for the fixed income market. Coupon and principal payments on the old bonds resumed on March 13, 2023. S&P Global Ratings acknowledged the completion of the DDEP by upgrading Ghana's local currency sovereign credit ratings from selective default (SD) to 'CCC+/C'. The program saw a high participation rate, with the majority of eligible bonds being tendered. The government is now focusing on engaging with external creditors to ensure overall debt sustainability.

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