All 23 banks in Ghana now meet the Bank of Ghana’s regulatory capital requirements, marking a recovery from the economic crisis that left 13 institutions below the required threshold.
Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama confirmed the development at the 43rd Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Association of Banks in Accra on Thursday, 8 October 2026. The event also saw the launch of the sixth edition of the GH Bankers’ Voice Magazine.
The breaches were identified in banks’ 2022 audited financial statements. Dr Asiama said they resulted from the economic crisis and the impairment of financial assets after the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
“This is a significant achievement,” he said, acknowledging the contribution of banks, shareholders, investors, the Association, the government and the central bank.
He said the banking sector had continued to strengthen since 2025 amid improved macroeconomic conditions and ongoing regulatory reforms. Total banking assets rose by 20.47 per cent year-on-year to GH¢500.20 billion by the end of August 2026, compared with GH¢415.20 billion a year earlier.
However, Dr Asiama warned that reaching the regulatory minimum should not be viewed as the end of the process. Banks must maintain capital that reflects the risks within their businesses and establish buffers capable of absorbing future shocks.
He said the risks facing the sector were becoming increasingly complex. As part of its supervisory work, the Bank of Ghana assessed the sustainability of banks’ business models in 2025 and shared the vulnerabilities identified with the affected institutions. A further review is expected next year.
The central bank is also preparing two new directives. The first will address credit risk management and complement its existing notice on non-performing loans (NPLs). It is intended to improve banks’ underwriting standards, loan monitoring, restructuring processes and recovery efforts.
The second directive will introduce a prudential requirement covering the Liquidity Coverage Ratio. Dr Asiama said the ratio should form part of a broader risk-management culture, supported by contingency funding arrangements and more diversified sources of finance.
The Bank of Ghana has also strengthened its stress-testing framework. It is engaging banks on results produced under severe but plausible scenarios, with institutions expected to apply the findings when planning their capital and liquidity positions.
Technology-related threats remain another supervisory priority. Dr Asiama identified cybersecurity, digital fraud, data protection and operational resilience as areas requiring close attention.
The central bank will examine how banks are implementing its revised Cyber and Information Security Directive. Dr Asiama also urged bank boards to regard cyber risk as a core business risk rather than a purely technical issue.
