In a keynote address to the Ghana Association of Bankers’ 42nd Annual General Meeting, the Bank of Ghana outlined a programme to pivot from post-crisis stability measures toward payments, regulatory and supervisory innovation, and gave a status update on several digital-finance initiatives. The Governor also cited latest banking and macro indicators, including an August capital adequacy ratio of 18.28 percent, non-performing loans of 20.77 percent, deposits up by over 17 percent year on year, and improved profitability with return on equity at 32.21 percent and return on assets at 5.64 percent. On policy and market infrastructure, the Bank is developing a comprehensive Digitalization Strategy and plans dedicated engagement with banks and the Ghana Association of Bankers to shape it. The agenda includes payments upgrades through Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems to enhance instant payments and the national QR system for multi-currency interoperability, and an eCedi pilot moving into a next phase that tests retail and wholesale use cases involving banks, fintechs and telecoms. On regulation, the sandbox has tested over 20 fintech solutions, the Open Banking Framework is in proof-of-concept, and Digital Lending Guidelines are expected “soon”; the Bank also pointed to ongoing proofs of concept spanning open banking, tokenised payments, foreign exchange tracking and digital identity. In foreign exchange market reforms, the Bank has launched a structured FX operations framework with International Monetary Fund support and revised net open position limits from plus or minus 5 percent to 0 percent to minus 10 percent; supervisory and risk initiatives referenced include AI-driven supervisory tools, a Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform, and a pilot ESG and climate-risk reporting template. The Bank indicated it is targeting formal cryptocurrency regulations by December 2025, noting that a bill has been finalised and is ready for submission to cabinet.
Bank of Ghana 2025-10-23
Bank of Ghana sets out digitalisation agenda and says cryptocurrency regulation bill is ready for cabinet submission
The Bank of Ghana announced a shift from post-crisis stability to payments, regulatory, and supervisory innovation, emphasizing a Digitalization Strategy and national payment system enhancements. It is advancing its eCedi pilot, testing over 20 fintech solutions in its sandbox, and targeting formal cryptocurrency regulations by December 2025. Additionally, it launched a structured foreign exchange operations framework and revised net open position limits, supported by the International Monetary Fund.