By J. K Nabary
Awutu Bawjiase (C/R), July 02, GNA – Mr Curtis William Brantuo, Acting Managing Director of the ARB Apex Bank PLC has cautioned Community Banks across the country to comply with the Bank of Ghana deadline for the minimum paid-up capital requirement of five million Cedis to avoid sanctions.
He stated that it was a mandatory threshold which must be achieved within the stipulated regulatory timeline.
The sanctions he stated, included operational restrictions, heightened supervisory interventions, or license revocation.
Mr Brantuo issued the caution in remarks made on his behalf by Mr Kofi Owusu of the Apex Bank at the 35th annual stakeholders’ meeting of the Bawjiase Community Bank PLC at Awutu Bawjiase.
He said in view of that, the Bank of Ghana had provided three clear pathways for compliance which included, existing stakeholders mobilisation of additional capital to the five million Ghana Cedis requirement through cash injections or conversion of retained earnings by the end of December, 2026.
The Banks that cannot individually meet the requirement may merge with other Community Banks to achieve the minimum capital threshold or voluntarily surrender their licenses under controlled exit arrangement to protect depositors.
“ARB Apex Bank urges the Board and Shareholders to conduct an immediate capital adequacy assessment, develop a clear capital mobilisation strategy, secure stakeholders commitments, submit a credible recapitalisation plan and ensure full compliance before the deadline,” he devised.
According to Mr Brantuo, the year 2025 presented challenges, including persistent inflation, exchange rate volatility and elevated interest rate, and despite these headwinds, the community banking sector demonstrated remarkable resilience.
He said the Apex Bank needed to acknowledge them for the collective efforts at maintaining depositor confidence, improving asset quality and supporting local economic recovery.
“On behalf of ARB Apex Bank, I congratulate the Board, management, staff and the esteemed stakeholders of Bawjiase Community Bank for convening their milestone stakeholder’s engagement.
“Thirty-six years of dedicated service to Awutu Bawjiase Community and its environs is a remarkable achievement that deserves celebration,” he added.
According to him, community banks like Bawjiase, continued to play critical roles in Ghana’s financial landscape, bringing banking services to underserved communities, providing essential credit to small and medium enterprises and the agriculture sectors, mobilising local savings for productive investments as well as serving as anchors of community development beyond traditional banking.
Mr Brantuo stated that the bank’s outstanding 2025 performance positioned it strongly to attract stakeholders confidence for capital strengthening, and commended it for making significant increase in minimum capital requirement across all the financial indicators, and achieving above the mandatory threshold, before the deadline.
On the Bank’s exceptional financial performance, he said the total assets impressively improved by 25 percent, from GHc129. 6 million in 2024 to GHc161.9 million, demonstrating expanding capacity and stakeholder’s confidence.
Also, customer deposits recorded remarkable growth of 31.5 percent, increasing from GHc94.3 million in 2024 to GHc124 million, reflecting strong depositor confidence.
According to him, profit before tax was more than doubled, with an exceptional growth of 24 percent, from GHc 7.5 million to GHc 9.3 million reflecting operational excellence and strong execution.
“ARB Apex Bank reaffirms our commitment to working with Awutu Bawjiase Community Bank to build a resilient, trust and developmental-oriented banking network.
“..and while you celebrate 36 years of service, you may find renewed commitment to take you to even greater heights,” he added.
Later in an interview with Mr Stephen Kwamena Prah, Chief Operations Officer of the Bank, he expressed gratitude to all the shareholders for their confidence in the bank and for investing more to bring it to that far.
According to him the board and management remained firmly committed to uphold the highest standard of integrity, accountability and transparency in the execution of the Bank’s affairs, recognising that sound governance was fundamental to sustaining stakeholder confidence and long-term instructional stability.
He stated that the paid-up capital of the Bank increased from GHc5,684,470 in 2024 to GHc6, 292,833 in 2025, saying though the Bank had met the regulatory minimum capital of five million Cedis, shareholders were encouraged to continue to invest more to make more resources available for expansion and also to meet any future increase in the regulatory minimum paid-up capital by the Bank of Ghana
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Kenneth Odeng Adade