Ghana in Numbers

The prosecution of William Ato Essien, founder of the defunct Capital Bank, remains one of the most significant legal cases to emerge from Ghana's banking sector clean-up. The case traces its roots to the collapse of Capital Bank in 2017, a period that marked the beginning of major reforms in Ghana's financial sector aimed at strengthening banking supervision and protecting depositors. Capital Bank Case: Key Legal Milestones in the Prosecution of William Ato Essien Following

Board diversity has become an increasingly important measure of corporate governance across the world. Diverse boards bring broader perspectives, improve decision-making, strengthen risk oversight, and help organizations better reflect the customers and communities they serve. Yet the latest data from Ghana's banking sector shows that gender parity in the boardroom remains the exception rather than the norm. Gender Diversity on Ghanaian Bank Boards An analysis of board compos

Every rainy season in Accra now comes with fear, disruption, and destruction. Roads become rivers, homes are submerged, businesses shut down, and entire communities are left stranded after hours of intense rainfall. What was once viewed as occasional flooding is increasingly becoming a recurring urban crisis. The recent flooding scenes across Accra highlight a deeper structural problem facing Ghana’s capital city. Rapid urbanization, poor drainage systems, uncontrolled constr

Anyone tracking the Ghana cedi will quickly realize that there is no single “true” dollar rate in the country. On May 26, 2026, official Bank of Ghana rates showed the US dollar selling at GHS 11.63, while forex bureaus and card processors quoted rates as high as GHS 12.50. This wide spread highlights the fragmented nature of Ghana’s foreign exchange market and explains why consumers, businesses and investors often experience different exchange rates depending on where they t

Ghana’s growing technology ecosystem is facing one of its biggest policy debates in recent years following the introduction of the proposed National Information Technology Agency (NITA) Bill 2025. While supporters argue the bill is intended to strengthen regulation, improve standards and enhance cybersecurity oversight, many players within Ghana’s startup and developer community believe the proposal could unintentionally slow innovation and create new barriers for young profe

The legal dispute between GN Bank and the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has become one of the most closely watched financial sector cases in Ghana’s recent history. What began as part of Ghana’s banking sector clean-up in 2018 and 2019 has evolved into a prolonged legal battle involving regulatory authority, banking solvency, constitutional questions, and the future of financial sector reforms. GN Bank v Bank of Ghana. A Timeline of Legal Events The origins of the dispute trace back to

The Daniel Ofori vs Ecobank case has become one of the most discussed commercial legal disputes in Ghana’s history. Spanning nearly two decades, the case combined issues of share ownership, banking transactions, regulatory intervention, disputed documentation, and the massive financial implications of high-interest calculations. Daniel Ofori v Ecobank. Breaking down one of Ghana's Longest Commercial Court Battles At the center of the dispute was a 2008 transaction involving a

Ghana’s banking industry recorded strong customer deposit growth in 2025, signaling improving confidence in the financial sector despite ongoing economic pressures and competitive funding conditions. According to published financial statements from 21 banks, total customer deposits increased from GHS 268.18 billion in 2024 to GHS 309.79 billion in 2025, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 15.5%. Customer Deposit Growth/Decline in Ghana's Banking Sector The growth was d

Ghana’s actual fiscal outturn for 2025 presents a revealing picture of how government finances are evolving under mounting economic pressure. The latest figures show total revenue and grants reaching GH¢224.88 billion, while total expenditure climbed slightly higher to GH¢233.78 billion, resulting in an overall fiscal deficit of approximately GH¢8.9 billion. At first glance, the gap between revenue and expenditure may appear manageable. However, a deeper look into the composi

Ghana’s banking sector is once again under the spotlight, and this time the story is written in the numbers behind non-performing loans. At the extreme end, one bank records an NPL ratio of 70.5%, while at the other, a regional peer reports just 2.1%. This wide dispersion is not just a statistic; it reflects deeper structural realities within the financial system. Non-Performing Loans (NPL) in Ghana 2025 Non-performing loans, commonly defined as loans overdue by more than 90

Ghana’s financial system is quietly revealing a powerful story, one that challenges how we typically think about money, influence, and economic control. In 2025, customer deposits held within Ghana’s banking sector (drawn from the Financial Statements of 21 banks) reached approximately GHS 309.79 billion, surpassing total government expenditure of GHS 233.78 billion for the same period. On the surface, this comparison is striking, but its deeper implications are even more imp

Ghana’s banking sector is sitting on a significant pool of liquidity. With total customer deposits reaching GHS 309.79 billion, the expectation would be that a substantial portion of these funds is being channeled into loans to support businesses and economic growth. But the data tells a more cautious story. A comparative analysis of customer deposits, loans, and lending efficiency across banks in Ghana (2025). Across the industry, banks have extended only GHS 90.24 billion i

A shift in how Ghana generates power tells a bigger story than most people realise. Ghana's Energy Mix from 2000 to 2024 In 2000, Ghana's electricity story was simple. Nine out of every ten units of electricity came from one source: water. The Akosombo Dam, built across the Volta River in the 1960s, was the backbone of the national grid, and hydropower accounted for 92% of all electricity generated in the country. By 2024, that figure had collapsed to 39%. According to the Gh

The telecommunications landscape in Ghana has seen a remarkable transformation over the last three decades. From the early days of bulky analogue handsets to the lightning-fast broadband speeds of today, specific mobile operators have played a crucial role in driving this evolution. This article explores the pioneers who led Ghana through the four distinct eras of mobile technology. Ghana's Mobile Tech Pioneers. The Journey from 1G to 4G The Analogue Era (1G): Setting the Fou

In early April 2026, Ghanaian creators on X (formerly Twitter) began reporting a frustrating trend: their last two payout cycles had failed to reflect in their accounts. Below, we break down what we know so far and the explanations circulating about why these payments are being stalled. Disclaimer: This article is based on current user reports and screenshots circulating on X (formerly Twitter) as of April 17, 2026. At the time of writing, no official statements or formal co

Are sachet water producers in Ghana cheating? A Question Made Urgent by Today's Price Hike. On April 2, 2026, the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers (NASPAWAP) announced yet another increase in the price of sachet water, effective April 6. The stated reason: a global shortage of polymers and rising production costs linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran. For millions of Ghanaians who depend on pure water as their primary drinking source, it is unwelco

The Numbers That Tell the Story Ghana has just recorded its 15th consecutive month of falling inflation. The headline rate dropped to 3.2% in March 2026, the lowest reading since the Ghana Statistical Service rebased the Consumer Price Index in 2021, down from 23.8% as recently as December 2024. That is a fall of 20.6 percentage points in just 15 months. For context, it took Ghana nearly three years to build up to that peak from single-digit levels after the 2020 pandemic sh

Introduction Ghana’s inflation trajectory over the past two decades tells a powerful story of economic volatility, policy intervention, and recovery. From double-digit pressures in the early 2000s to a historic spike above 50% in 2022, inflation has shaped household welfare, business decisions, and macroeconomic stability. A heat map of Ghana's inflation from 2004 to 2026 The Early Years: Gradual Stabilization (2004–2011) In 2004, inflation hovered near 29%, reflecting struc

Introduction Ghana’s capital market is expected to operate on principles of fairness, transparency, and efficiency. At the center of this mandate is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), specifically its Exchanges and Markets Department, which is responsible for monitoring trading activities and ensuring market integrity. But a key revelation from the SEC’s 2024 Annual Report raises an important question: How effectively can a modern capital market be supervised witho

Introduction Every year, the Ghanaian government collects billions of cedis in taxes and other revenues to fund public services, infrastructure, and social programs. But how exactly is that money generated and where does it go? Using data from Ghana’s 2025 fiscal framework, this analysis breaks down government revenue sources, spending priorities, and the resulting budget deficit. Understanding this fiscal structure provides important insight into the country’s economic chall