Ghana financial markets see surge in lending, equities, and fixed-income trading

Ghana's financial sectors showed significant activity and growth through mid-2026. According to Bank of Ghana data, secured lending rose 73.4% year-on-year to GH¢31.5 billion in the second quarter of 2026, despite a 32.2% decrease in the total number of registered security interests. This trend indicates a shift toward fewer but larger loan transactions. Indigenous banks saw a notable 112.4% growth in secured credit compared to the previous year.

The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) has experienced a major rally, with the Composite Index recording a 71.9% year-to-date gain as of August 2026. Market capitalization surged 90.9% to GH¢285.58 billion. While the index faced recent volatility due to profit-taking in large-cap stocks like MTN Ghana, the financial sector remains a primary driver of market recovery.

In the fixed-income market, trading value more than doubled in August 2026, reaching GH¢43.20 billion. This growth was driven by increased investor exposure to government debt, specifically notes and bonds, which accounted for over 52% of transactions. Strong demand was also noted in government Treasury auctions, particularly for short-dated securities.