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Government to settle ¢2.4bn coupon payments on DDEP bonds
The Government of Ghana is expected to settle ¢2.4 billion of the first coupon payment on bonds occasioned by the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) on August 27, 2023 and August 28, 2023 respectively.
This, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, says is in line with the government’s commitment to the continued success and credibility of Ghana’s domestic debt operations.
The bonds that are expected to mature in 2027 as indicated in the memorandum documents were originally expected to mature in 2023. They are in all the category bonds that are Category A Bonds, Category B Bonds, and the General Category Bonds.
Whilst the coupon or interest rates of the August 27, 2023 bonds are going for 14.13% and 15.00%, that of the August 28, 2023, are currently priced at 10% and 15% respectively.
Finance Minister in a tweet said, “New bonds now stand as the dominant instruments in our domestic bond market, laying the basis for rapid recovery”.
“We remain committed to the success of the new bonds, and again thank all those who participated in the DDEP for their sacrifices”, he added.
The government in February 2023 announced a debt restructuring of its domestic bonds. This was a major requirement to secure a $3 billion package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.
Approximately 85% of holders eligible participated in the Invitation to Exchange (as determined by the Central Securities Depository) tendered in the Exchange.
It also in July 2023, announced the restructuring of Government of Ghana dollar-denominated bonds, cocoa bills and pension funds. The dollar-denominated bonds were estimated at $809million and cocoa bills worth ¢7.93 billion.
This was a requirement to qualify for the next tranche ($600 million) of a $3 billion IMF loan to address its worst economic crisis in a generation.
The objective is to eventually restructure ¢123 billion in domestic debt.
Source:Myjoyonline.com
The Dzidula Pink Foundation, a new organisation dedicated to cancer awareness, early detection, and patient support, has been officially launched in Accra, with a passionate call for national commitment to fighting the disease. The launch event, held last week Friday, carried the theme: “Beyond the diagnosis: A future of restoration, care and courage.”
Speaking at the event, Madam Abena Brigidi, founder and CEO of Nimed Capital Limited, emphasised that cancer remains one of the most devastating health challenges facing families across the country. “Cancer does not discriminate—it affects mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons. It drains families emotionally and financially, and behind every statistic is a human story and a future suddenly thrown into uncertainty,” she said.
Sharing her personal encounters with cancer, having lost both her husband and father to the disease, Madam Brigidi highlighted the emotional, financial, and physical scars left behind. “I stand here not just as a speaker, but as a witness to what cancer can take away,” she stated. “I have watched loved ones fight bravely, and I have felt the deep pain that loss leaves behind.”
She stressed that awareness and early detection are critical to reducing deaths, noting that many Ghanaians still lack access to proper screening, reliable information, and adequate treatment. She appealed to healthcare professionals, corporate institutions, policymakers, the media, and the general public to join hands in the fight. “Early detection saves lives. Your support today can lead to someone’s healing tomorrow,” she said.
Madam Brigidi further called for collective responsibility to sustain the foundation’s mission. “To our medical professionals, we need your expertise. To corporate partners, your resources. To the media, your voice. To policymakers, your support. And to the public, your compassion,” she urged. She also insisted that breast cancer awareness should not be limited to annual campaigns, saying, “Breast cancer awareness must not be seasonal.”
Mrs Diana Fafa Gozo, founder of the Dzidula Pink Foundation, shared her own cancer journey, describing the shock of diagnosis, the fear that followed, and the difficult path through treatment. Her experience transformed her pain into purpose and inspired her to create a foundation to ensure no cancer patient walks alone.
Mrs Gozo explained that many patients struggle not only with treatment costs but also with emotional resilience. She outlined the foundation’s initiatives, which include awareness and early detection campaigns, patient support funds, community outreach, and survival support circles. “This foundation is my offering of gratitude, courage, and compassion and a reminder that no one should walk the cancer journey alone,” she concluded.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) says it will deploy teams of Public Health Officers, members of its Sanitation Taskforce, and labourers, including sweepers and janitors, across all sub-metros to support the third National Sanitation Day exercise.
It explained that these teams will be equipped with waste collection trucks, tippers, and other tools to help with desilting, refuse collection, and transporting waste to approved disposal sites.
The AMA reminded residents that failing to comply with the sanitation directive or refusing to participate in communal labour is an offence.
It said offenders risk a fine of up to 100 penalty units, imprisonment between 30 days and six months, or both, with repeat offenders liable to additional daily penalties.
It urged all residents, traders, transport operators, market women, shop owners, landlords, tenants, and businesses to actively participate in the exercise.
The AMA said it counts on everyone’s collective responsibility to keep Accra clean, liveable, and resilient, especially as the city approaches Christmas and the New Year.
By: Jacob Aggrey
