Ghana banks assets rise to over GH¢500b

At the end of August 2026, total assets of Ghana's banking sector had surged by 20.47 percent to reach a noteworthy GH¢500.20 billion, according to Dr Johnson Asiama, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG). This significant rise from GH¢415.20 billion in 2025 signified a promising boost in the banking system's overall health, said Dr Asiama during the 43rd Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Association of Banks in Accra on Thursday.

The growth was attributed to better macroeconomic conditions and the regulatory and supervisory reforms initiated by the central bank, noted the Governor.

A key achievement of the banking sector was the improvement in its Capital Adequacy Ratio, which rose from 18.28 percent in August 2025 to 19.10 percent in August 2026. This figure was substantially higher than the minimum regulatory requirement of 13 percent, showcasing a solid foundation to support the banks' operations. Furthermore, the Non-Performing Loans (NPL) ratio demonstrated a commendable decline from 20.77 percent in August 2025 to 15.66 percent in August 2026, reflecting the sector's resilience in handling loan defaults.

Dr Asiama highlighted that all 23 banks operating in Ghana had met their regulatory capital requirements. Although 13 banks had initially breached these requirements in their 2022 audited financial statements, collaborative efforts involving banks, shareholders, investors, the Government, and the BoG had successfully restored compliance across the entire sector.

Despite the progress, Dr Asiama cautioned that capital restoration alone was not enough to ensure long-term stability. He urged the banks to enhance their business models, risk management, and their resilience to withstand potential future economic shocks.

The Bank of Ghana conducted a comprehensive thematic review of the viability and long-term sustainability of the banks' business models in 2025. The review identified vulnerabilities, which were subsequently shared with the respective institutions, and initiated engagements with their boards and senior management. A second round of Business Model Analysis is planned for 2027 to further strengthen the sector's practices.

Dr Asiama also emphasized the necessity for banks to reduce their NPL ratios to the prudential limit of 10 percent by the end of December 2026. The central bank remains committed to strengthening its regulatory and supervisory frameworks to preserve the gains made by the banking sector and ensure that stronger balance sheets contribute to sustainable operations, thereby fostering greater support for productive economic activities in Ghana.