‘Your cash is ready, come for your money’ – Ato Forson announces GH¢29bn DDEP bond redemption

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced the early redemption of GH¢29 billion in domestic debt exchange bonds due in February 2027, inviting bondholders to receive their money ahead of the original maturity date.

The early redemption offer takes effect today, Thursday, November 12, 2026, the same day Dr. Forson presented the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament.

Announcing the decision, the Finance Minister said government was ready to settle the outstanding obligations to holders of the February 2027 Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) bonds.

“TO HOLDERS OF THE FEBRUARY 2027 DDEP BONDS, this early redemption offer is there for you, and I invite you to take it,” he told Parliament.

He reiterated the invitation, assuring bondholders that funds were available for the repayment.

“I REPEAT, TO EVERY DDEP BONDHOLDER whose bond falls due in February 2027, hear me clearly: YOUR CASH IS READY. COME FOR YOUR MONEY!”

Dr. Forson further assured holders of other DDEP bonds that government would honour all outstanding principal and interest payments according to schedule.

“NOW TO EVERY OTHER DDEP BONDHOLDER, hear me clearly: every cedi owed to you, principal and interest, will be paid in full and on time,” he said.

Government intends to complete the repayment of the February 2027 domestic bond by December 31, 2026, bringing forward the settlement of the obligation ahead of its original maturity.

The early redemption forms part of government’s broader debt management strategy, which the Finance Minister said would be supported by financing and borrowing reforms.

The Domestic Debt Exchange Programme was undertaken as part of Ghana’s debt restructuring efforts. Under the programme, holders of affected domestic bonds exchanged their existing instruments for new bonds with revised repayment terms.

The February 2027 maturity forms part of the repayment obligations arising from that restructuring.

Dr. Forson said the previous government’s decision to postpone DDEP repayment obligations had left substantial debt payments falling due in 2027 and 2028.

He argued that the repayment structure could have exposed Ghana to another debt default, adding that the current administration was building financial buffers to meet its obligations.

He said the early redemption of the February 2027 bonds would form part of more than GH¢36 billion in debt payments government intends to clear ahead of schedule by the end of 2026.