BoG Rolls Out New Regulatory Measures to Curb Interest Charges, NPLs and Enhance Bank Resilience
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has introduced a raft of new regulatory measures aimed at sanitising the banking sector, with a particular focus on interest charges on digital platforms, foreign exchange (FX) pricing, Non-Performing Loans (NPLs), and the recapitalisation of commercial banks.
Some of the new regulations are expected to take effect from July and August 2025, while others—such as the cap on NPLs—will be implemented from 2026.
Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiama, disclosed this during a post-Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting with Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of commercial banks at the BoG Headquarters in Accra.
Dr Asiama revealed that the central bank will, from 2026, cap the NPL ratio of financial institutions at 10 percent as part of efforts to strengthen risk management practices and enhance financial stability.
He further announced that commercial banks will now be required to publish the names of “blacklisted” borrowers in their Annual Accounts.
“This directive is to promote transparency and ensure that only creditworthy individuals and institutions have access to credit,” Dr Asiama stated.
He added that the move is in response to the persistent rise in NPLs, which continues to threaten the asset quality of banks and overall financial intermediation in the country.
On digital lending platforms, the BoG is introducing guidelines to regulate interest charges and prevent excessive pricing. The central bank also plans to streamline FX pricing across platforms to avoid discrepancies and protect consumers from exploitative rates.
The recapitalisation framework for commercial banks will also be reviewed, with stricter thresholds and timelines expected to be issued in the coming months.
These latest regulatory interventions by the central bank form part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening the resilience of Ghana’s banking sector and aligning it with global best practices.
