Ghanaian Banks Show Mixed Half-Year Results Amid Rising Credit Pressures

Ghana’s banking sector posted a mixed performance in the first half of 2025, with several banks strengthening their financial positions while others face rising credit pressures, according to an analysis by The High Street Journal based on unaudited half-year financial statements from eight major banks.

Capital positions improved for most institutions. Societe Generale Ghana’s capital adequacy ratio rose to 22.70% in June 2025 from 16.67% a year earlier, while its non-performing loans fell to 17.9% from 21.15%, reflecting stronger buffers and improved loan management. 

Standard Chartered Ghana maintained the sector’s most robust position, with a CAR of 30.75% up from 28.81%, alongside a sharp drop in NPLs to 13.17% from 28.96%, making it one of the most resilient banks in the sector.

GCB Bank also strengthened capital to 20.0% from 18.5%, with NPLs declining to 13.8% from 19.9%, signaling relative stability. Access Bank maintained very low NPLs at 3.41% from 3.26%, even as its capital dipped slightly to 19.08% from 19.82%. Republic Bank Ghana showed modest improvement, with a CAR of 18.89% up from 15.44% and NPLs reducing slightly to 16.92% from 17.50%.

Some banks, however, remain under pressure. Calbank’s capital stayed low at 7.6%, up marginally from 7.3%, while its NPLs surged to 51.6% from 38.6%. Ecobank increased capital to 16.9% from 13.22%, but non-performing loans jumped to 24.86% from 16.71%. ADB remains the most vulnerable, reporting a negative CAR of -0.46% from -22.94%, with NPLs climbing to 71.08% from 66.88%.

The data highlights a sector where banks with strong capital and lower NPLs, such as Standard Chartered Ghana and Societe Generale Ghana, are better positioned to absorb shocks, while those with weaker capital or rising bad loans continue to face risks.

Overall, the half-year results suggest progress in strengthening capital and controlling credit risk, though vulnerabilities persist in some institutions. 

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