Ghana’s banking industry is moving early to reinforce capital buffers as lenders prepare for a tighter liquidity environment from 2027, when the country faces a renewed cycle of heavy external debt repayments.

This means banks are repositioning portfolios and tightening risk management in anticipation of reduced fiscal space.

Ghana’s banks are bracing for a fresh round of macro-fiscal strain as the IMF-supported programme winds down in 2026 and sizeable external obligations come due soon after.

With payments of roughly USD 2.5 billion in 2027 and USD 2.4 billion in 2028, lenders expect liquidity conditions to tighten and government financing flows to come under renewed pressure.

Data available to Citi Business News indicate that banks have begun rebalancing their asset mix, trimming exposure to government securities while diversifying revenue through fee-based activities and trade-related services. The shift comes as the industry continues to rebuild balance sheets.

Total assets rose 33.8% to GH¢367.8 billion in 2024, while deposits, the sector’s primary funding source, expanded 28.8% to GH¢276.2 billion.

Profitability indicators show a mixed picture. Return on Assets in 2024 held above 5% for most of the year, dipping to 4.81% in November before recovering to 5.04% in December.

Return on Equity eased to 30.8% from 34.2% a year earlier, reflecting more cautious balance-sheet management but also signaling improving risk controls across the sector.

Responding to shifting market conditions, banks are also accelerating growth in trade finance, diaspora-focused banking and regional payment and settlement services under the AfCFTA – part of a broader effort to position Ghana as a competitive West African trade hub.