We could raise Ghana’s rating if there is more pronounced economic recovery – S&P

Rating agency, S&P Global, has indicated to raise Ghana’s long-term local curren­cyrating over the next 12 months following a track record of successful execution under the Ghana’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF).

In its upside assessment of the outlook of the Ghanaian economy, it said it could raise Ghana’s rating if there was a more pronounced economic recovery, and a strengthening of balance-of-payments perfor­mance that supports stronger fis­cal and external outcomes, taking pressure off the government’s financing needs and improving debt sustainability.

On the downside risk, S&P said it could lower the local currency rating over the next 12 months if unexpected negative policy developments undermine access to financing from the local market or official sources, or there was a significant delay in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board’s approval of Ghana’s Extended Credit Facility, which was endorsed at the IMF staff level in December 2022.

“Over the medium term, pos­sible setbacks in ECF execution could hinder access to financing, potentially from other multilat­eral lending institutions (MLIs), and renegotiation of Paris Club debt. This scenario would likely further damage local investor confidence and could lead to a recourse to central bank financ­ing amid worsening inflation and currency dynamics, putting downward pressure on our long-term local currency rating,” it said in a report.

S&P on February 24, 2023, raised its long- and short-term local currency sovereign credit ratings on Ghana to ‘CCC+/C’ from ‘SD/C’ (selective default).

At the same time, it affirmed its ‘SD/SD’ long- and short-term foreign currency ratings.

In addition, it lowered the foreign currency issue ratings to ‘D’ (default) from ‘CC’ on three U.K. law Eurobonds, including those maturing on July 7, 2023; November 2, 2025 and Novem­ber 2, 2027.

Outlook reflects government’s improved refinancing profile.

S&P said the stable outlook on the long-term local currency rating reflected the government’s improved refinancing profile, and reduced cost of debt as a consequence of its domestic debt rescheduling.

This, it said, was balanced against still-challenging domestic and external liquidity conditions, very high inflation, currency volatility, and uncertainties in connection with ongoing efforts to restructure the sovereign’s external foreign currency debt.

“Our long-term foreign currency rating remains ‘SD’ after the government ceased payments on foreign currency instruments. Ratings at ‘SD’ do not carry an outlook,” it added.