Ghana Parliament Greenlights $2.8 Billion Debt Relief Deal
Ghana's parliament has given approval to a $2.8 billion debt restructuring agreement with 25 creditor nations, including China, France, the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. This authorisation is vital for unlocking further disbursements from a $3 billion IMF-backed bailout programme initiated in May 2023.
Lawmakers, endorsing the restructuring unanimously, approved measures under a memorandum of understanding signed in January 2025 that reschedule debt payments falling due between 20 December 2022 and 31 December 2026. Repayment has been deferred until the 2039–2043 period, affording Ghana over 15 years of fiscal breathing space. Interest on the restructured debt will be set between 1% and 3%, significantly below prevailing market rates.
This intervention, coordinated through the Official Creditor Committee, is poised to fortify Ghana's macroeconomic stability by easing immediate liquidity pressures and supporting long-term debt sustainability.
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Since defaulting on most of its external debt in December 2022, Ghana—Africa's second-largest cocoa producer—has worked to stabilise its economy amid high inflation, a depreciating currency and contractionary pressures. The IMF bailout has helped to arrest market downgrade momentum, including a ratings revision from Fitch.
Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson described the deal as a turning point, enabling a reduction in debt-to-GDP to around 55% by 2026 and the debt-service-to-revenue ratio to fall below 18% by 2028. He noted the government plans to channel the fiscal space created into critical development sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture and energy.
Despite official creditor backing, Ghana still faces negotiations with commercial creditors over approximately $2.7 billion in private loans. These discussions, guided by the 'comparability of treatment' principle and the most-favoured-creditor clause, aim to prevent preferential terms and ensure cohesion between official and commercial agreements.
Analysts caution that failure to finalise terms with private lenders could delay full debt relief and weigh on investor confidence, even as official support strengthens.
This parliamentary action is expected to unlock the next IMF tranche under the three-year programme, which will in turn support Ghana's ongoing fiscal consolidation and monetary stabilisation efforts.
Reaction from the business community has been cautiously optimistic. Observers note that by deferring large debt repayments until the late 2030s and capping interest rates, Ghana can prioritise capital investments and social spending in the short to medium term. However, success will be contingent on continued IMF compliance, central bank tightening to curb inflation, and the outcome of upcoming commercial creditor talks.
As Ghana progresses towards formalising these bilateral agreements, experts suggest that solidifying its economic reform agenda will be essential. Any reversal or lack of follow-through risks undermining the country's debt trajectory ahead of contested elections scheduled for 2026.
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