Gov’t Sacrifices GH¢1bn To Tighten Treasury Bill Rates

The government’s strategy to control the rising cost of domestic borrowing is once again evident as it deliberately rejected GH¢1.095 billion in investor bids in the latest treasury bill (T-bill) auction.

This move, intended to suppress interest rate hikes, comes at the cost of missing its auction target for the second consecutive week, signaling a persistent tension between investor expectations and the government’s debt management approach.

According to data from the Bank of Ghana, the government received total bids worth GH¢5.471 billion across the 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day treasury bills.

However, only GH¢4.375 billion of that amount was accepted, falling short of the GH¢6.669 billion target for the week.

The rejection of GH¢1.095 billion in bids shows a deliberate effort by the government to avoid locking itself into high interest obligations, even amid strong investor participation.

The 91-day bill remained the most attractive to investors, pulling in GH¢3.507 billion in bids approximately 64.07% of the total tendered amount.

However, only GH¢2.652 billion of those bids were accepted. For the 182-day bill, investors tendered GH¢1.806 billion, out of which GH¢1.674 billion was accepted.

The 364-day bill saw the least participation, with only GH¢157.18 million in bids, and just GH¢48.44 million accepted — reflecting the government’s hesitance to commit to long-term borrowing under current market conditions.

Strategy

One of the most telling signs of the government’s stance is the yield behavior across the instruments. The yield on the 91-day bill stayed unchanged at 14.79%, indicating that the government is comfortable with short-term borrowing at that rate. In contrast, yields on the 182-day and 364-day bills saw notable declines.

Specifically, the 182-day bill yield dipped by three basis points to settle at 15.45%, while the 364-day bill yield fell by 12 basis points to 15.71%. These movements suggest that the government is deliberately using interest rate suppression as a tool to reduce the cost of domestic debt, even if that means sacrificing short-term cash flow by rejecting higher-yielding bids.

The recent auction highlights the government’s precarious balancing act. On one hand, it needs to raise sufficient funds to meet its short-term expenditure obligations. On the other, it is under pressure to maintain fiscal discipline and ensure that borrowing costs do not spiral out of control.

The rejection of over GH¢1 billion worth of bids underscores a policy direction that prioritizes long-term sustainability over short-term liquidity. This approach aligns with the government’s broader objective of consolidating fiscal gains and restoring macroeconomic stability, especially under the current International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.

However, this tactic comes with its risks. Persistent shortfalls in auction targets could create funding gaps, potentially compelling the government to return to the market under less favorable terms if revenue inflows underperform or expenditure pressures mount.

Implications

The sustained interest in the 91-day bill reflects a cautious investor sentiment. Many market participants prefer the shortest tenor due to its lower risk and quicker rollover potential in an environment of policy uncertainty and inflationary concerns. However, the government’s insistence on keeping rates low could test investor patience if inflation does not decline fast enough or if liquidity pressures increase.

From a market perspective, the government’s stance could signal to investors that yields may have peaked in the short term, thereby influencing expectations in future auctions. But unless supported by a clear decline in inflation and stronger fiscal performance, the government’s ability to continue suppressing yields may be challenged.

The government’s decision to tighten its grip on interest rates while sacrificing over GH¢1 billion in bids demonstrates a strategic prioritization of fiscal prudence over meeting funding targets. While this may help control borrowing costs in the short term, the recurring auction shortfalls point to a broader challenge of reconciling investor appetite with sustainable public finance management.