Ghana creditworthiness has again been downgraded, now to a worse status, ‘Junk with assigned ‘Restrictive Default’.
The rating agency which is globally recognized by investors and its report highly reliable has slapped Ghana with unfavourable rating following the country’s fiscal, economic and debt restructuring challenges.
The ratings by Fitch was attributed to recent government debt restructuring which has resulted in government proposing new bond deals to bond holders in the country.
The new Domestic Debt Exchange Programme by government, is a prerequisite in its quest to secure an IMF deal but yet to get acceptance by all key stakeholders.
Payments of government bonds that matured in February 6 are yet to be effected due to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme and that which payment is due this week as government continues its effort to win acceptance from all key stakeholders.
Pensioners have insisted on being exempted from the programme and have assured of not backing down their demands.
The downgrade of Ghana’s local-currency denominated debt follows the completion of a domestic debt exchange offer by the Republic of Ghana. This transaction is an element of the recovery programme for which the government is seeking the support of the International Monetary Fund for a 3-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) of about $3 billion.
RATING DRIVERS OF GHANA’S CREDITWORTHINESS DOWNGRADE (Fitch Ratings)
Local Currency Debt Restructuring Confirmed
The downgrade of Ghana’s local-currency denominated debt follows the completion of a domestic debt exchange offer by the Republic of Ghana. This transaction is an element of the recovery programme for which the government is seeking the support of the IMF. On Dec. 12, 2022, Ghana and the IMF reached a Staff-Level Agreement on a three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) of about USD3 billion.
Material Reduction in Terms:
All holders, except pension funds, of 67 eligible bonds governed by Ghanaian law and denominated in Ghanaian Cedis (GHS) were invited to exchange their holdings into new bonds with the same aggregate principal amount, plus applicable capitalized accrued and unpaid interest, which have in the aggregate a lower average coupon and extended average maturity than the old bonds.
Collective investment schemes and individual holders below the age of 59 will receive bonds maturing in 2027 and 2028 with a 10% coupon. Individual holders aged 59 or older will receive bonds maturing in 2027 and 2028 with a 15% coupon. All other participating holders will receive a set of bonds with maturity dates ranging from 2027 to 2033 in exchange of bonds maturing in 2023, and a set of bonds with maturity dates ranging from 2027 to 2038 in exchange of bonds maturing after 2023. All these bonds will pay a 5% cash coupon and a paid-in-kind coupon of 3.35% to 5.00% until Feb. 13, 2025, and cash coupons ranging from 8.35% to 10.00%, depending on the specific series, from Feb. 14, 2025.
Distressed LC Debt Exchange:
In Fitch’s view, this debt exchange constitutes a distressed debt exchange under the agency’s criteria, given this material reduction in terms vis-à-vis the original contractual terms, and given that the exchange is needed to avoid a traditional payment default. According to Fitch’s sovereign rating criteria, a ‘RD’ rating is consequently assigned to the Long-Term Local Currency Issuer Default Rating. Among the 67 eligible bonds that could be tendered, six are rated by Fitch. A ‘D’ rating has been assigned to these six bonds.
Missed LC Principal Payment:
A GHS4.2 trillion principal payment was due on Feb. 6, 2023. In the second amended and restated exchange memorandum released on Feb. 7, authorities announced that eligible holders holding this bond would not receive a final interest payment and a final principal payment, regardless of whether an eligible holder has tendered or not.
