By Francis Ntow, GNA
Accra, Oct. 1, GNA – The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has increased its stake in Société Générale Ghana to 24.36 per cent.
The Trust acquired an additional five per cent stake, raising its shareholding from 19.36 per cent, as Société Générale exits the Ghanaian market.
The development follows an agreement between Société Générale Group and pan-African banking group, Attijariwafa Bank, for the sale of the French group’s 60.22 per cent stake in its Ghanaian subsidiary.
Under the agreement, Attijariwafa Bank will acquire a 55.22 per cent stake, while SSNIT will acquire five per cent, with the new majority shareholder taking over the bank’s operations, including existing client portfolios and employees.
SSNIT said the transaction would increase Ghanaian participation in the banking sector and strengthen domestic ownership of a major financial institution.
“This reflects the importance of ensuring that Ghanaian workers, pensioners and institutions benefit more directly from the growth and performance of the country’s financial sector,” SSNIT said in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday.
The Trust said the increased shareholding represented a significant strengthening of its investment portfolio on behalf of Ghanaian workers and pensioners, with the objective of securing long-term value, sustainability and improved retirement benefits.
“It enhances the Trust’s position to safeguard and grow contributors’ retirement assets while supporting the long-term development and stability of the Bank,” the statement noted.
SSNIT expressed appreciation to the government, particularly the Minister of Finance, for its support in securing the additional stake and completing the transaction.
“SSNIT thanks Attijariwafa Bank for its cooperation throughout the transaction and acknowledges the Bank of Ghana and the Securities and Exchange Commission for their regulatory oversight,” the statement said.
In 2024, Société Générale Group announced reforms to its global business offerings aimed at improving efficiency, while denying reports that it was exiting the Ghanaian market.
“It’s important to mention to all our stakeholders and shareholders that the news item being circulated in the media was not issued by the Group nor by SG Bank. We don’t want to comment further,” Mr Hakim Ouzzani, Managing Director, said.
He made the remarks at the bank’s 44th Annual General Meeting, where he said that despite economic challenges and their impact on the banking sector, the bank recorded 290 per cent growth over 2022, with GHS424.8 million profit after tax in 2023.
Mr Ouzzani said the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) had minimal direct impact on profitability in 2023 but posed an indirect third-party risk, as clients who invested company funds in government securities struggled to repay loans.
The bank began operations in 1975 as Security Guarantee Trust Limited, becoming Social Security Bank Limited in 1976 and later merging with the National Savings and Credit Bank in 1994.
It was listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange in 1995 following government divestiture.
The bank rebranded as SG-SSB in 2004 after Société Générale acquired a 51 per cent controlling stake, and subsequently became SG in 2013 to align with the group’s global corporate identity
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
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