Business Outlook Africa

Banking & Finance

Banking & Finance

GIPC Relocates to Ministry of Finance Complex in Kanda

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) has announced it will be operating from a new office location effective Wednesday, April 1, 2026, moving to the Ministry of Finance Office Complex at Kanda, Accra. The Centre made the announcement in a public notice, urging investors, partners, and all stakeholders to update their records accordingly and take note of the new address for all official visits and correspondence. The relocation comes months after the Ministry of Finance itself made a similar move. The Ministry of Finance officially relocated its offices from the Ministries enclave to Kanda in Accra earlier this year, with full operations beginning at the new premises on February 9, 2026. The Kanda facility was originally constructed by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) prior to the current administration assuming office. The GIPC is Ghana’s foremost investment attraction and promotion agency, operating under the Office of the President and guided by the GIPC Act 2013 (Act 865). The Centre facilitates investments to stimulate economic growth, unlock opportunities, and spur job creation, and serves as the first point of contact for all foreign investors coming to Ghana. The GIPC says it looks forward to welcoming visitors at its new location.  

Banking & Finance

Ecobank GH Appoints Naa Alhassan Andani as Chairman of its Board of Directors

Ecobank Ghana has appointed Naa Alhassan Andani as Chairman of its Board of Directors, effective Thursday, March 26, 2026. The appointment, which was announced on Monday,March 30,026 is seen as part of efforts by the bank aimed at reinforcing its governance structures and improve its leadership position within Ghana’s financial sector. Naa Andani, widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most accomplished banking professionals, brings on board more than 36 years of experience to the role with his expertise spanning across corporate and investment banking, financial management, strategic leadership and governance.Naa Andani has also occupied several high-level executive and board positions within Ghana’s banking sector. The bank noted that Naa Andani’s extensive experience in both corporate leadership and national governance frameworks makes him best fit for the role and positions him well to provide strong oversight and strategic direction. Reacting to the appointment, the Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana PLC, Abena Osei-Poku, expressed her confidence in his ability to guide the board at a critical time for the institution. “We are honoured to welcome Chief Alhassan Andani to the Ecobank family. His wealth of experience, visionary leadership and strong industry credibility make him the ideal person to guide our board at this pivotal time,” she said. “We look forward to working with him to further strengthen our achievements, deepen innovation and deliver long-term value to our customers, shareholders and the communities we serve.”she stated  Ecobank added that the appointment underscores its commitment to strong corporate governance, strategic leadership and sustainable growth.

Banking & Finance

UG Wins 2026 National Banking & Ethics Challenge (NBEC)

University of Ghana have been announced Champions of the second edition of the National Banking & Ethics Challenge (NBEC) after edging past UPSA(29.5 points) and UDS(26 points) with 31.5 points. The Competition organized by the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB) Ghana, aims at promoting financial literacy, ethics, and professional standards among university students in Ghana’s financial sector. The 2026 edition of the NBEC which happens to be the second ever edition of the competition featured 12 Universities across 5 regions,an addition of 4 regions unlike last year’s edition which featured only schools from the Greater Accra Region. As the winning team, the UG contestants will enjoy full scholarships on the registration, tuition and examination of the Chartered Institute of Bankers Professional Examination with Other contestants from the other 11 universities will enjoy 100% scholarships on Registration. The top 3 teams also earned some cash prizes courtesy of Absa Bank. All Contestants will also have the opportunity with to intern with GCB as part of the rewards. Speaking with Business Outlook Africa during the Competition,CEO of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Mr Robert Dzato, ACIB hinted of plans to expand both the scope and size of the competition. “The first thing that will change is that we expect a number of universities to come on board from 5 to 12. Next year we’ll get bigger and better and potentially we could have a southern zone and a northern zone as well so that we don’t complicate every university here.That for us is very very fundamental. The second part is we expect some regulatory changes we have to bring those regulatory parts to. Things around non-conformity loans, things around digital assets, Crypto is a new development area.So these are new things that we’ll have to bring to improve upon the content in terms of the knowledge that we’re sharing ” he stated. The competition according to experts is not only tailored for student but for banking professionals and the general public as well to deepen the trust in the banking sector .  

Banking & Finance

UG, UPSA and UDS Advance to NBEC 2026 Grand Finale as Wisconsin, KNUST and UCC Bow Out

The second edition of the National Banking & Ethics Challenge (NBEC) reached its peak today as the University of Ghana, UPSA and the University for Development Studies (UDS) booked their places in the Grand Finale after a dramatic Semi-Final contest at the CIB Ghana Auditorium in Accra Organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB) Ghana, the NBEC aims to promote financial literacy, ethics, and professional standards among university students in Ghana’s financial sector. Six universities featuring the University of Ghana, UDS, KNUST, Wisconsin International University, University of Cape Coast, and UPSA entered the Semi-Final stage having survived a competitive preliminary round the previous day. The Semi-Final Contest concluded with the University of Ghana delivering a commanding performance, topping the standings with a total of 28.25 points across three rounds to claim 1st position and secure their place in the Grand Finale. UDS were not far behind, finishing 2nd with 27.50 points to also advance with  UPSA  also producing a resilient showing, accumulating 22.50 points to clinch 3rd position and edge out Wisconsin International University, who finished just below them on 22 points. KNUST, despite a stellar Round 1 performance, struggled in subsequent rounds and got knocked out with 21.30 points.                             The University of Cape Coast, Group B’s second-placed team from the preliminary stage, managed only 18.15 points and bowed out as well. The Grand Finale now sets up a fascinating three-way contest between the University of Ghana, UDS, and UPSA, where a new champion will be crowned as defending champions Academic City University College, winners of the maiden edition in May 2025, exited at the preliminary stage.

Banking & Finance

Six Universities Advance to NBEC 2.0 Semi-Finals as Academic City’s Title Defence Ends at Preliminary Stage

The second edition of the National Banking & Ethics Challenge (NBEC 2.0) kicked off today with six out of twelve participating universities securing their places in the Semi-Final stage of the competition. Organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB) Ghana, the NBEC aims to promote financial literacy, ethics, and professional standards among university students in Ghana’s financial sector. This year’s edition saw the twelve participating institutions divided into two groups of six, with the top three from each group advancing to the next stage. Group A produced a thrilling finish as the University of Ghana emerged group winners with 39 points, narrowly edging out UDS and KNUST, who both finished level on 38 points. Despite respectable outings, Academic City (29 points), GCTU (30 points), and Central University (26 points) could not do enough to secure a place in the next round. Group B was equally competitive. Wisconsin International University topped the group with 39 points, with the University of Cape Coast and UPSA following closely behind on 37 and 36 points respectively. The University of Education Winneba (26 points), Pentecost University (21 points), and All Nations University (20 points) bowed out of the competition. The Semi-Final and Grand Finale are scheduled for tomorrow at the CIB Ghana Auditorium, where a new champion will be crowned after Academic City University College, winners of the maiden edition held in May 2025 fell short in the preliminary stage.

Banking & Finance

Finance Minister Hosts First Investor Town Hall Since 2021, Signals Recovery

The Ministry of Finance has held its first investor town hall since 2021, bringing together investors, bankers and bond market players to rebuild confidence in Ghana’s economy. Speaking at the meeting,Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance Patrick Nomo described the engagement as a key step toward transparency and policy credibility, expressing confidence Ghana will not return to default. Also giving his remarks at the meeting,The  Minister of Finance,Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson stated that  the economy is firmly on a recovery path, citing falling inflation to 3.3 percent, strong growth, and a restored primary surplus. He also highlighted a solid post-DDEP track record, including IMF programme milestones, a credit rating upgrade, and over US$1.4 billion in Eurobond payments in 2025. He outlined credible 2026 targets anchored on domestic revenue, and detailed debt management plans to address upcoming maturities through sinking fund buffers and reprofiling. Participants welcomed the engagement and expressed renewed confidence in the management of the economy.

Banking & Finance

BOG Commissions Security Operations Centre (SOC)

The Bank of Ghana has on Wednesday, March 25 ,2026 commissioned its Security Operations Centre (SOC) at Bank Square. The commissioning which took place at the Bank Square brought the Chief of Staff, Hon. Julius Debrah, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana among other dignitaries. The SOC is expected to serve as a centralised hub for monitoring, detecting, and responding to cybersecurity threats in real time, reinforcing the Bank’s commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s financial ecosystem. This milestone marks a significant step in strengthening the Bank’s security architecture and enhancing resilience against evolving cyber risks.

Banking & Finance

BOG Relaunches Cyber and Information Security Directive

The Bank of Ghana has relaunched its Cyber and Information Security Directive, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s evolving digital financial ecosystem. Delivering the welcome address at the Bank Square  on March 25,2026, the First Deputy Governor, Dr. Zakari Mumuni, emphasised the policy actions taken by the Bank to preserve financial stability. “The Bank has taken deliberate steps to strengthen the stability of the country’s financial ecosystem. Cybersecurity is no longer a technical issue, it is a matter of national and economic security. “ he said The Governor and Chairman of the event, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama underscored the significance of the initiative explaining how innovations like mobile money has shaped the industry in the last decade. “This theme is not just a slogan, but the central pillar of the Bank’s regulatory philosophy. Over the last decade, innovations, such as mobile money, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence have revolutionised financial access and inclusion.” he said. The relaunch marks a renewed commitment to ensuring that innovation is supported by strong safeguards, protecting Ghana’s financial ecosystem in an increasingly digital age.

Banking & Finance

4 of 6 MPC Members Support 150bps MPR Cut at BoG

  The Bank of Ghana, at its 129th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings held from 16 to 18 March 2026, reduced the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 150 basis points to 14.0 percent. The decision according to BOG saw four of the six members present voting for the cut, while one member pushed for a more cautious 75 basis point reduction and another urging the rate be left unchanged. Reasons Member 1 supported the 150bps cut, citing fourteen consecutive months of declining inflation, strong reserves of US$14.5 billion, a widening trade surplus, and robust GDP growth of 6 percent while flagging geopolitical tensions as a risk to watch. Member 2 also backed the 150bps cut, acknowledging global oil market uncertainty from the US-Israel-Iran conflict but arguing Ghana’s strong external buffers provided sufficient insulation to justify easing. Member 3 was more cautious, voting for only a 75 basis point cut to 14.75%. Though supportive of easing, the member argued that rising oil prices, non-food inflation pressures, utility tariff risks, and global supply chain disruptions warranted a measured rather than aggressive move. Member 4 voted for the 150bps cut, balancing optimism about Ghana’s domestic recovery against the risks posed by the Middle East conflict, ultimately concluding that the country’s buffers were strong enough to absorb potential shocks. Member 5 supported the150 bsp cut, pointing to inflation remaining below target, a strong external sector, and a still-negative output gap meaning the economy had room to grow without reigniting inflation. Member 6 was the sole voice for holding the rate at 15.5%, arguing that the escalating Middle East conflict, oil prices hovering around US$100 per barrel, and disrupted global supply chains posed too great an inflation risk to justify any reduction at this time. The member, however, signalled willingness to support a cut at the next meeting should conditions improve. The next Monetary Policy Committee is scheduled to take place in May 2026.

Banking & Finance

BOG Governor Champions Continental Integration at 3i Africa Summit Launch

The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama has called for a deeper integration of Africa’s financial systems, warning that the continent does not need isolated islands of excellence but connected ecosystems capable of driving transformative, continent-wide progress. Speaking at the launch of the 3i Africa Summit in Ghana, the Governor explained that the next frontier for African fintech is not more innovation in silos, but the deliberate integration of systems, markets, rules, and opportunities across the continent. “ …but the next frontier is not just more innovation in silos. It is the integration of systems, markets, rules, and opportunities across the continent. It is about ensuring that progress in one market can connect meaningfully with progress in another, and that Africa’s financial evolution is not pursued in fragments.Africa does not need isolated islands of excellence. It needs connected ecosystems.”he stated The Governor further made the case that innovation and regulation are not opposing forces explaining that sound regulation, when properly managed, sets off a chain reaction that ultimately benefits the broader economy and the people it serves. “Sound regulation creates confidence. Confidence attracts participation. Participation encourages investment. Investment supports scale. And scale, when directed responsibly, expands inclusion and strengthens the overall financial system,” he said. The Governor also noted that the critical task now is not to wait for conditions to improve but to convert that existing readiness into coordinated action and long-term institutional progress pushing back on the longstanding narrative that describes Africa primarily in terms of untapped potential. “What is increasingly evident is not merely potential, but readiness ,readiness in talent, readiness in innovation, readiness in digital adoption, readiness in entrepreneurship, and increasingly, readiness in regulatory innovation,” he added. In his closing remarks,The Governor expressed hope that the 3i Africa Summit 2026 would place Ghana’s priorities and ambitions more firmly at the centre of the global financial conversation.