BoG Governor Announces Forward-Looking, Risk-Based Banking Supervision from 2026

Bank of Ghana (BoG) Governor, Dr Johnson Asiama, has announced that banking sector supervision will adopt a more forward-looking and risk-based approach starting in 2026, aimed at strengthening financial stability and promoting responsible credit expansion.

Speaking at the Governor’s Day Programme organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Dr Asiama explained that the new framework will enable more precise differentiation among banks, enhanced governance, improved risk management, and the rebuilding of capital buffers—creating space for institutions to grow credit responsibly.

“Credit growth will matter, but credit quality will matter more,” he emphasized, adding that supervision will focus on intermediation quality, underwriting discipline, sectoral concentration, cash-flow analysis, and risk pricing.

Strengthening Governance
Dr Asiama stressed that governance will remain a core pillar of financial stability, with greater accountability for boards and senior management, including oversight of risk appetite, internal controls, and outcomes.

Enhanced Bank Relationships
The Governor also highlighted reforms to improve the BoG’s engagement with banks, including clearer regulatory guidance, streamlined internal processes, and more predictable timelines for approvals—even as supervision becomes more rigorous.

Markets and Digital Infrastructure
On financial markets, attention will shift from recovery to depth, diversification, and mobilisation of long-term capital, while payments, settlement systems, data standards, and digital infrastructure will remain strategic priorities.

“Faster settlements, richer transaction data, interoperable platforms, and stronger fraud controls will increasingly define competitiveness and resilience,” Dr Asiama noted.