The non-performing loans ratio within the banking sector climbed to 24.2% in 2023 – BOG

Even when adjusted for fully provisioned loan losses, the NPL ratio climbed to 10.8% in June 2024, up from 7.8% the previous year, indicating a rise in all categories of non-performing loans.

This increase in the NPL ratio is attributed to the faster growth of non-performing loans compared to total loans during the review period.

The industry’s total NPL stock surged by 49.4%, reaching GH¢20.4 billion in June 2024, up from GH¢13.7 billion, showing a deterioration in both domestic and foreign currency-denominated loans.

The private sector, being the largest recipient of bank credit, accounted for the majority of non-performing loans.

Its share of NPLs increased slightly to 95.6% in June 2024, from 95.5% in June 2023. Meanwhile, the public sector’s share dropped marginally to 4.4% from 4.5% in the same period.

Among the sectors, agriculture, forestry, and fishing reported the highest NPL ratio at 56.4%, up from 30.0% a year prior, followed by the transportation, storage, and communication sector, with an NPL ratio of 49.1%, up from 22.1%.

The construction sector’s NPL ratio rose to 36.8% from 32.8%, while the electricity, water, and gas sector saw an increase to 20.6% from 7.8%. The commerce and finance sector remained steady at 20.2%.

Mining and quarrying recorded the lowest NPL ratio at 13.7% in June 2024, slightly higher than the 12.7% recorded in June 2023.