Global Markets oversubscribe Ghana’s $3b Eurobond 5 times

Global Capital markets on Tuesday further voted confidence in the Ghanaian Economy with a five times over-subscription of the countries $3 billion  Eurobond sale at very low rates comparatively.

While Ghana went to the Markets to raise 3b USD, investors responded with a 15b USD offer for Ghana’s new coupon rates.

Market watchers were initially worried Ghana may achieve little success in trading the new bonds at rates cheaper than the 7.88 per cent and 8.13per cent of last year for 7 and 12-year bonds, the West African country further surprised watchers by pulling off 6.375% and 7.875% for 7 and 15year bonds respectively.

Additionally, Ghana sold a 41-year bond at a coupon of 8.875 per cent, this will be the longest dated bond for an African Country. In 2019 the country sold a 31year bond at 8.95%.

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, who led Ghana’s team commented that the lower rates reflected Ghana’s further reduced risk premium demanded by the capital markets as a result of the consistently improving economic conditions.

He further commented that the five times oversubscription for the bonds represents very buoyant confidence in Ghana’s medium to long term economic growth prospects especially given the wider turbulence in the international capital markets due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Earlier in the week, the cedi had been adjudged the best performing currency while the central bank had also been adjudged the best performing African central bank.

A week earlier, global rating agency Moodys had reviewed Ghana’s rating outlook from stable to positive, coinciding with the appreciation of the cedi within the first quarter of 2020.

The government says the proceeds will mostly be injected into infrastructure, energy and initiatives that deliver more growth, jobs and incomes to the Ghanaian people.