Thirteen banks pushed below regulatory capital limits in 2022 have climbed back above the threshold. The Bank of Ghana confirmed on 8 October 2026 that all 23 Ghanaian banks now meet capital requirements.
Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama announced the development at the 43rd Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Association of Banks in Accra, coinciding with the launch of the sixth edition of the GH Bankers’ Voice Magazine. The capital shortfalls surfaced in the 2022 audited financial statements. They stemmed from the economic crisis and impairments linked to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
"This is a significant achievement," Dr Asiama said, attributing the recovery to the efforts of banks, shareholders, investors, the Association, the government, and the central bank.
The sector’s total assets reached GH¢500.20 billion by the end of August 2026, a 20.47% increase from GH¢415.20 billion the previous year. Dr Asiama credited better macroeconomic conditions and ongoing regulatory reforms for this growth since 2025.
Despite the progress, the Governor stressed that meeting minimum capital requirements is only the beginning. Banks must maintain capital aligned with their risk profiles and build buffers for future shocks. He warned that the risks banks face are becoming more complex.
In 2025, the Bank of Ghana reviewed the sustainability of banks’ business models. The vulnerabilities found during this review were communicated to the institutions. A second review is planned for 2027.
Dr Asiama announced that two new directives are in preparation. One will focus on credit risk management, complementing existing rules on non-performing loans. It aims to strengthen loan underwriting, monitoring, restructuring, and recovery. The other directive will address the Liquidity Coverage Ratio by setting prudential liquidity requirements.
He emphasized that liquidity ratios should be part of a broader risk culture, supported by contingency funding plans and diversified funding sources.
The Bank of Ghana has tightened its stress-testing framework. It is discussing results based on severe but plausible scenarios with banks. These results are expected to guide capital and liquidity planning.
On technology, supervisory attention is turning to cybersecurity, digital fraud, data protection, and operational resilience. The Bank will review how banks apply its revised Cyber and Information Security Directive. Boards are urged to consider cyber risk a core business risk.
The sector’s rebound follows a turbulent period linked to the 2022 crisis, which exposed weaknesses in bank capital and asset quality. The Domestic Debt Exchange Programme had a significant impact, impairing financial assets and pressuring capital ratios.
Dr Asiama’s remarks reflect a cautious optimism. The Bank of Ghana’s ongoing regulatory tightening and supervisory measures aim to prevent a repeat of the vulnerabilities exposed four years ago.
The sector’s total assets crossing the half-trillion-cedi mark signals renewed confidence. But the Governor’s emphasis on deeper capital buffers and risk management points to a banking industry aware of the challenges ahead.
According to 3News.
