Ghana’s banking industry maintained strong profitability in the first eight months of 2025, with profit-after-tax rising by 46.1% to GH¢9.7 billion, compared to GH¢6.7 billion recorded during the same period in 2024.
According to the September 2025 Monetary Policy Report, the sector posted gains across all income lines, with other income surging 47.3% in August 2025, reversing a 2.9% contraction recorded a year earlier.
Net interest income rose 21.8% to GH¢19.2 billion, up from GH¢16.9 billion in August 2024, driven by a slowdown in interest expenses due to lower interbank lending rates.
On a year-on-year basis, interest income increased 21.5% to GH¢29.3 billion, while interest expenses climbed to GH¢10.2 billion from GH¢8.4 billion, representing 20.9% growth — slightly below the 22.1% growth in August 2024.
The report further noted that net fees and commissions grew 13.1% in August 2025, down from 22.9% a year earlier, while overall net operating income expanded by 28%, compared to 10.9% growth in 2024.
Operating expenses also increased moderately, rising 19.5% compared to 18.9% in the previous year, reflecting marginal growth in staff and administrative costs.
However, provisions for depreciation, bad debts, and impairment losses contracted sharply by 46%, against a 19.2% contraction in 2024, on account of higher recoveries and write-offs.
Overall, profitability indicators strengthened, with return-on-equity (ROE) increasing from 31.4% in August 2024 to 32.2% in August 2025, and return-on-assets (ROA) improving from 4.9% to 5.6% over the same period — underscoring the industry’s robust recovery and stronger balance sheet performance.
