Bank of Ghana Losses Reflect Economic Rescue, Not Banking Failure

Parliament's Economic Committee Chair Eric Afful urges broader view of GH¢15.6 billion 2025 deficit

Parliament’s Economic Committee Chairman, Eric Afful, stated that the Bank of Ghana's financial losses should not be judged like a regular business. The Bank reported a GH¢15.6 billion net loss for the 2025 fiscal year. It also faced an other comprehensive income charge of GH¢19.32 billion. This resulted in a negative equity position of GH¢96.3 billion. Mr. Afful explained that these numbers represent the cost of protecting Ghana’s economy. Central banks are not like commercial banks. Their main job is public policy. That includes fixing economic problems. These financial outcomes show the effort to stabilize the nation. People need to look at the period from 2022 to 2024 for a full picture. During that time, Ghana faced a very tough economic crisis. From 2022 to 2024, the Bank of Ghana had total losses of about GH¢80.85 billion. This included GH¢60.81 billion in 2022. It was GH¢10.55 billion in 2023 and GH¢9.49 billion in 2024. Inflation peaked at 54.13% in 2022. The Ghana cedi dropped sharply. It reached GH¢17 to one US dollar by December 2024. This was a depreciation of about 19.7%. Gross international reserves were low. They stood at $9.3 billion in 2024. This covered about four months of imports. The Bank's equity was deeply negative, GH¢64.34 billion in 2023. Mr. Afful sees the 2025 financial results as a continuation of important policies. These were aimed at bringing back economic balance. He stated that the Bank’s balance sheet showed negative equity of GH¢96 billion in 2025. However, key economic signs show a big improvement. Inflation dropped sharply. It reached 5.2% by the end of 2025. It fell further to 3.2% by March 2026. The Ghana cedi also grew stronger. It appreciated by about 40.7% against the US dollar. Gross international reserves increased to about $13 billion. This provides cover for around 5.7 months of imports. The Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Programme is also in motion. It aims for reserves to cover up to 15 months of imports by 2028. Mr. Afful stressed that the Bank’s financial performance isn't in isolation. It is part of a larger plan to fix Ghana’s economy. This strategic approach strengthens the country's economic foundations. He said this on Tuesday, May 5, during a press conference in Accra. People should understand the central bank's role in economic stabilization.

Bank of Ghana Losses Reflect Economic Rescue, Not Banking Failure

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