Ghana Minute.
Monday, 21 September 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 21 September 2026
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Ghanaian press · Person

Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama

Also known as: Governor Johnson Pandit Asiama · Emmanuel Asiamah Mensah · Governor Dr Asiama · Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama · Governor Dr. Asiama · Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama

Governor of the Bank of Ghana, overseeing monetary policy, financial regulation, and initiatives including non-interest banking and diaspora investment channeling.

2026-04-272026-09-21

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. September 2026
  2. Daily Guide

    Johnson Pandit Asiama Banks in the country wrote off GH¢1.23 billion in bad loans during the first half of 2026, representing a 38 percent increase over the GH¢893 million recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

    Banks Write Off GH¢1.23bn Bad Loans
  3. The Chronicle

    The Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, has assured the public that the introduction of non-interest banking will not create a religious banking system or give any faith preferential treatment in Ghana’s financial sector.

    Non-Interest Banking Will Not Create Religious Banking System –Dr Asiama
  4. Joy Online

    Under Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, the Bank of Ghana maintained price stability as the central objective of monetary policy while balancing efforts to reduce inflation with the need to support economic recovery.

    From 23.2% to 5.4%: World Bank recognises Ghana’s historic disinflation and the role of BoG’s Monetary Policy
  5. Joy Online

    The development follows a sustained easing of monetary conditions by the Bank of Ghana, under Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, after the sharp decline in inflation created room for the central bank to progressively reduce its policy rate.

    Average lending rate in Ghana falls from 27% to 15.6% — World Bank
  6. Daily Guide

    Johnson Pandit Asiama, said real GDP growth reached 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2026, headline inflation had fallen from a peak of 54.1 percent in December 2022 to 4.6 percent in July 2026, and gross international reserves stood at US$12.9 billion.

    Fidelity Bank Hosts Debt Market Conference To Drive Growth
  7. Joy Online

    Delivering the keynote address, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, presented data confirming the strength of Ghana’s recovery.

    Fidelity Bank convenes debt capital markets conference to turn Ghana’s recovery into long-term growth
  8. Joy Online

    Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Monday assured Ghanaians, especially the Christian community, that the country’s impending non-interest banking is not a tool to advance any religious doctrine.

    Non-interest banking not religious doctrine – Governor Asiama
  9. August 2026
  10. Joy Online

    The Chief of Staff, Dr Julius Debrah, and the President’s Legal Adviser, Madam Marietta Brew-Oppong, represented President John Dramani Mahama, while Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama was the Guest of Honour.

    Yusif Sulemana celebrates Gonja unity at Damba festival
  11. The Chronicle

    Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, said the Committee would be critical to ensuring coordinated regulation and supervision of virtual assets while protecting consumers, safeguarding financial stability and supporting responsible innovation.

    Bank of Ghana takes lead in regulating virtual assets
  12. Joy Online

    The initiative, according to the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, is intended to close a significant gap in Ghana’s financial system by strengthening mechanisms for monitoring and investigating foreign currency seized by the authorities.

    BoG inaugurates committee to probe seized foreign currency at Ghana’s borders
Business

Banks Write Off GH¢1.23bn Bad Loans in First Half 2026

The News

Ghana's banks wrote off GH¢1.23 billion in bad loans during the first half of 2026, a 38 percent increase from GH¢893 million a year earlier. Despite the increased write-offs, the banking sector's non-performing loan ratio improved to 16.1 percent in June 2026 from 23.1 percent in June 2025, suggesting banks are cleaning up their loan portfolios.

15 September 2026 · Daily Guide

Tuesday 15 September

  1. Banks Write Off GH¢1.23bn Bad Loans in First Half 2026

    Ghana's banks wrote off GH¢1.23 billion in bad loans during the first half of 2026, a 38 percent increase from GH¢893 million a year earlier. Despite the increased write-offs, the banking sector's non-performing loan ratio improved to 16.1 percent in June 2026 from 23.1 percent in June 2025, suggesting banks are cleaning up their loan portfolios.

    15 September 2026 · Daily Guide

Thursday 3 September

  1. Bank of Ghana assures non-interest banking won't create religious system

    The Governor of the Bank of Ghana has assured the public that introducing non-interest banking will not create a religious banking system or give any faith preferential treatment. The initiative is presented as an inclusive, non-discriminatory commercial banking model intended to operate alongside conventional banking rather than replace it.

    3 September 2026 · The Chronicle

Wednesday 2 September

  1. World Bank recognises Ghana's historic inflation fall in 2025

    The World Bank has described Ghana's sharp decline in inflation in 2025 as one of the most dramatic disinflation episodes in the country's recorded economic history, with headline inflation falling from 23.2% in February 2025 to 5.4% by December 2025. The assessment attributes the significant reduction primarily to tight monetary policy, a strong appreciation of the cedi and easing food prices.

    2 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Bank lending rates in Ghana fall to 15.6% from 27%

    Ghana's average bank lending rates declined from 27.0 per cent in June 2025 to 15.6 per cent in June 2026, alongside a fall in the Ghana Reference Rate from 23.8 per cent to 10.0 per cent, according to the World Bank's 10th Ghana Economic Update. The decline reflects improving macroeconomic conditions and the Bank of Ghana's sustained monetary easing cycle, which reduced the Monetary Policy Rate from 28 per cent in April 2025 to 14 per cent by March 2026.

    2 September 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Fidelity Bank convenes debt capital markets conference for growth

    Fidelity Bank Ghana held a Debt Capital Markets Conference bringing together the Bank of Ghana, Ministry of Finance, Ghana Stock Exchange, and institutional investors to explore how macroeconomic stability can be converted into long-term capital for productive investment. Managing Director Julian Opuni said improving conditions present an opportunity after three years of stabilisation, and disclosed the bank has supported debt capital-market transactions with an aggregate value exceeding GH¢30 billion.

    2 September 2026 · Daily Guide

Tuesday 1 September

  1. Fidelity Bank hosts debt capital markets conference on Ghana growth

    Fidelity Bank Ghana convened a Debt Capital Markets Conference with the Bank of Ghana, Ministry of Finance, Ghana Stock Exchange, and institutional investors to discuss converting macroeconomic stability into long-term capital for productive investment. The conference, themed "Lower Rates, Higher Opportunity," focused on shifting the national conversation from economic stabilisation to building foundations for sustainable growth through debt capital markets.

    1 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Bank of Ghana defends non-interest banking as commercial, not religious

    Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama assured Ghanaians that non-interest banking is a commercial financial service open to all, regardless of religious belief, and not a tool to advance any religious doctrine. The BoG emphasized it is providing a regulatory framework to expand financial inclusion and ethical banking options as a complement to, not replacement of, conventional banking.

    1 September 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 31 August

  1. Yusif Sulemana celebrates Gonja unity at Damba festival

    Bole-Bamboi MP Yusif Sulemana celebrated the unity and cultural heritage of the Gonja people at the Damba festival on August 30, 2026, attended by traditional leaders, politicians, and the public, with presidential representatives and the Bank of Ghana Governor in attendance.

    31 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Bank of Ghana chairs new virtual assets regulation committee

    The Bank of Ghana has taken the two-year chairmanship of the Virtual Assets Coordinating Committee, established under the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act 2025 to coordinate regulation and supervision of Ghana's virtual asset sector while protecting consumers and financial stability.

    31 August 2026 · The Chronicle

Saturday 29 August

  1. BoG inaugurates committee to investigate seized foreign currency

    The Bank of Ghana has set up a Preliminary Investigation Committee on Seized Foreign Currency to address the movement of undeclared foreign currency through Ghana's airports and border points. The Governor said undeclared currency flows pose risks including money laundering, tax evasion and other illicit activities, and the BoG is working with multiple agencies to strengthen monitoring and investigation mechanisms.

    29 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Undeclared forex movement threatens Ghana's financial system integrity

    Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama has warned that undeclared foreign currency moving through Ghana's airports and borders poses a threat to financial integrity and enables money laundering and tax evasion. The BoG has established a multi-agency Preliminary Investigation Committee and is collaborating with revenue, security, and financial intelligence authorities to address the issue.

    29 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 25 August

  1. Bank of Ghana develops products to channel diaspora remittances into investment

    The Bank of Ghana is working with financial institutions, fintech companies and other stakeholders to develop trusted financial products tailored to Ghanaians abroad, aiming to channel diaspora remittances into productive investment, enterprise development and job creation to support economic transformation.

    25 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

Monday 24 August

  1. GoldBod dispute: IMF reports loss, audited accounts show profit

    The Minority cited an IMF report recording a US$1.7 billion loss (GH¢22 billion) in Ghana's Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, while GoldBod CEO presented audited financial statements showing an operational surplus of GH¢907 million and overall surplus of GH¢5.4 billion. The article notes both statements can be true because they address different aspects of the programme.

    24 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Ghana attracted $2.61bn in investments across 253 projects in 2025

    Ghana attracted approximately US$2.61 billion in new investments across 253 projects in 2025, signaling renewed investor confidence despite global uncertainties. The Bank of Ghana Governor noted growing interest in manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics and technology-enabled services, with existing investors expanding operations and reinvesting.

    24 August 2026 · The Chronicle

Saturday 22 August

  1. Bank of Ghana issues non-interest banking regulation framework

    The Bank of Ghana has issued its Guideline for the Regulation and Supervision of Non-Interest Banking and inaugurated the Non-Interest Financial Advisory Council, marking a significant milestone after nearly a decade of advocacy and stakeholder engagement by the Islamic Finance Research Institute of Ghana and others.

    22 August 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 14 August

  1. Ghana government signs gold sale agreement with miners

    The Ministry of Finance and four other institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the sale of 30 per cent of gold output from large-scale mining companies under the Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Policy (GANRAP), which seeks to increase Ghana's international reserves to the equivalent of 15 months of import cover by 2028.

    14 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

  2. BoG Governor urges banks to expand SME and agriculture lending

    The Bank of Ghana Governor has called on banks to develop flexible financing products tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises and agriculture, noting that many SMEs face difficulties accessing finance because banks view them as high-risk. He urged banks to design credit products that align with the seasonal nature of agricultural activities and borrowers' cash-flow patterns.

    14 August 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 13 August

  1. Ghana launches 30% gold purchase scheme under GANRAP

    Ghana has begun implementing the 30% gold purchase component of the Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Programme (GANRAP), under which large-scale mining companies will sell 30% of their gold output to the Bank of Ghana and Ghana Gold Board for local processing and refining before transfer to the central bank. The Lands Minister has called for flexibility among stakeholders and pledged continued engagement to address challenges during implementation.

    13 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Ghana, large-scale miners sign GANRAP gold reserve agreement

    Government and Ghana's large-scale mining companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding under the Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Programme, requiring mining companies to sell 30 percent of their gold output to the Ghana Gold Board for local processing and refining before it is added to the country's reserves.

    13 August 2026 · Joy Online

  3. BoG Governor calls banks to offer diaspora investment products

    Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, urged commercial banks to develop products that channel diaspora remittances into savings and investment, noting that remittances currently flow mainly through basic transfer channels and that banks lack dedicated products for Ghanaians abroad. The BoG is working with stakeholders to develop a national remittance strategy aimed at increasing investment-focused remittance flows.

    13 August 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 12 August

  1. BoG Governor urges banks to redesign loans for agriculture SMEs

    The Governor of the Bank of Ghana has urged banks to develop innovative and flexible credit products for small and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector, arguing that many such businesses struggle to access financing because banks perceive them as high-risk, and calling for loan products that account for the seasonal nature of agricultural operations.

    12 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. CanCham hosts CEOs' Connect 2026 on cross-border financing

    The Canada Ghana Chamber of Commerce will hold CEOs' Connect 2026 on 20 August 2026 at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra, bringing together chief executives, financiers, policymakers and investors for a high-level business dialogue on financing cross-border expansion between Ghanaian and Canadian companies.

    12 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 11 August

  1. BoG and CIB Ghana pledge ethics and banking sector collaboration

    The Bank of Ghana and the Chartered Institute of Bankers Ghana have committed to deeper collaboration to strengthen ethics, professionalism, and resilience in the banking sector. The commitment came during a courtesy visit where both institutions discussed customer protection, fraud prevention, digital assets, banking reforms, and the role of emerging technologies.

    11 August 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 7 August

  1. Bank of Ghana chief assures firms economy stable, inflation below target

    The Governor of the Bank of Ghana told business leaders in Sunyani that the economy remains on a stable growth path, citing low inflation, stronger economic growth, improved banking sector performance and resilient external reserves. The Monetary Policy Committee maintained the Monetary Policy Rate at 14 percent after assessing domestic and global economic conditions.

    7 August 2026 · The Chronicle

Thursday 6 August

  1. Ghana's economy grows 6.4% as inflation declines, BoG reports

    The Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama said Ghana's economy grew by an estimated 6.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 6.2 percent in the same period the previous year, driven by the services and industrial sectors and supported by declining inflation and increased tourism and business activities.

    6 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Bank of Ghana directs banks to cut NPLs below 10 percent by end 2026

    The Bank of Ghana has directed commercial banks to reduce non-performing loan ratios to below 10 per cent by the end of 2026 to strengthen financial stability and support credit growth. NPL ratios declined to 16.1 per cent by June 2026 from more than 23 per cent in 2025, but the central bank says this remains too high.

    6 August 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 5 August

  1. Seth Terkper proposes distress fund for struggling businesses

    Ghana's Economic Adviser to the President has proposed establishing a Non-Performing Assets Trust Fund to provide financial support to distressed public and private sector organisations and help the country withstand future economic shocks, citing recent experiences including banking sector clean-up and sovereign debt challenges.

    5 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

Tuesday 4 August

  1. BoG directs banks to cut bad loans to 10% by end 2026

    The Bank of Ghana Governor has directed regulated financial institutions to reduce non-performing loans to no more than 10 percent by December 2026, noting that although the sector's NPL ratio improved to 16.1 percent as of end-June 2026 from over 23 percent a year earlier, current levels remain unacceptably high and constrain lending and economic development.

    4 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 28 July

  1. Bank of Ghana: lending conditions improve, regulatory reform needed

    The Bank of Ghana says improving lending conditions across the financial sector strengthen the case for regulatory reforms to support innovation and digital financial services while maintaining financial stability. The central bank is modernising its regulatory frameworks to encourage innovation in digital transformation and financial inclusion.

    28 July 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 23 July

  1. Bank of Ghana allows UG economics students to observe MPC meeting

    Students from the University of Ghana's Department of Economics participated in the Bank of Ghana's 131st Monetary Policy Committee meeting as part of a new "Monetary Policy Committee Educational Observership Programme" designed to help students understand how monetary policy decisions are made and bridge the gap between economic theory and policy formulation.

    23 July 2026 · Daily Guide

Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute