Fraud cases among Ghana’s specialised deposit-taking institutions (SDIs) declined in 2025, but document-related fraud emerged as the sector’s biggest financial risk, driven by a sharp increase in losses linked to forgery and manipulation of documents.
The Bank of Ghana’s 2025 Fraud Report showed that forgery and manipulation of documents accounted for GH¢4.2 million in value at risk within the SDI sector, making it the largest contributor to potential fraud losses during the year.
This represented a significant increase from the GH¢0.01 million recorded in 2024.
The increase was largely driven by a single institution, which reported GH¢4.1 million of the total amount linked to document-related fraud.
The development contrasts with the overall decline in fraud incidents recorded by SDIs. The sector reported 182 fraud cases in 2025, down from 344 cases in 2024, representing a 47% reduction.
While cash suppression remained the most common fraud category, recording 109 cases during the year, its financial impact was lower compared with document-related fraud. Cash suppression recorded a value at risk of GH¢1.7 million in 2025.
The figures highlight how fewer fraud cases can still result in significant financial exposure when they involve larger-value transactions or institutional weaknesses.
Other major fraud categories recorded within SDIs included cash suppression, credit fraud, and burglary.
The rise in document-related fraud contributed to an overall increase in fraud exposure among SDIs. Total value at risk rose to approximately GH¢8 million in 2025, from GH¢4.5 million in 2024, representing a 77% increase.
The Bank of Ghana’s data shows that while the number of reported fraud cases within SDIs has declined, the financial impact of certain fraud types remains a concern, particularly where fraudulent documentation is used to facilitate higher-value losses.
