Monthly Archives - March 2022

Inflation rate hits 15.7% in February 2022

The national year-on-year inflation rate has increased to 15.7% in February 2022, which is 1.8 percentage points higher than the 13.9% recorded in January 2022, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has said. Professor Samuel Kobina Anim, the Government Statistician said this is the highest figure recorded since 2016. Month-on-month inflation between January 2022 and February 2022 was 2.4%. According to the GSS, three divisions (housing,...

BoG warns public about ‘Freedom coin’ cryptocurrency

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has cautioned the public about an impending launch of a cryptocurrency named “Freedom Coin” in Ghana.” It has come to the attention of Bank of Ghana that there is an impending launch of a cryptocurrency named “Freedom Coin,” the bank said. In line with notice NO.BG/GOV/SEC/2018/02 issued on 22nd January 2018, which can be found on...

‘Leverage digitisation to increase participation in economy’

Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Elsie Addo Awadzi, has called on women to leverage opportunities that digitisation provides – as she says this is a sure way of bridging the gender equality-gap and increase their participation in economic activities. Speaking on the theme ‘Women as Builders of Digital Economies in Ghana – A Call to Action to Close...

UBA appoints Chris Ofikulu as new MD/CEO

The Board of Directors of United Bank for Africa (Ghana) Limited (UBA Ghana) has appointed Mr. Chris Ofikulu as the new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA Ghana. He replaces Mr. Olalekan Balogun. Chris comes on board with over 30 years’ banking experience, of which 28 years has been in Business Development. Prior to his appointment as MD/CEO of UBA Ghana,...

Fitch downgrade of local banks worrying – economist

The downgrade of some local banks by Fitch Rating Agency has led analysts to raise concerns about its possible impact on the wellbeing of banks, owing to the quantum of credit extended to the central government and its agencies. Fitch, in February, assigned Ecobank Ghana Limited (EGH) – the nation’s second-largest bank – a Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of...

Stay away from ‘BitCash’ money doubling scheme…. BoG warns

The Bank of Ghana has cautioned the general public about the rise in money-doubling schemes which usually claim to have regulatory approval – the latest being what is known as the ‘BitCash Currency Exchange’. In a release, the bank said that it has not licenced any such entity or other cryptocurrency exchange platform to undertake such kinds of business in...

Kweku Awotwi extols outgoing UBA Ghana Managing Director

he Board Chairman of UBA Ghana Ltd, Kweku Awotwi, has commended the outgoing Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, Olalekan Balogun, for his stellar leadership over the past two years. Mr Awotwi gave the remarks at a send-off gathering held for Mr Balogun to bid him farewell to serve the Ghana subsidiary and lead the team to...

Banks seek refuge in gov’t bills, bonds

..turn back on private sector  Commercial banks in the country are channeling much of their assets into investment in government bills and bonds as the state’s appetite for domestic borrowing continues to increase, thereby making less funds available for the private sector – which is going through pandemic-induced challenges – to borrow. Data published by the Bank of Ghana show that...

Increase interest rates to stop free fall of cedi – Finance Lecturer to BoG

The Bank of Ghana has been urged to increase interest rates in the country to help stop the free fall of the Ghana cedi. According to the Chief Finance Officer of the Valley View University, Dr. Williams Peprah, increasing interest yield will entice investors to purchase more government securities and help slowdown the depreciation of the cedi, despite the difficulty...