Islamic banking is set to broaden Ghana’s financial landscape by complementing, rather than competing with, the country’s conventional banking system, Policy Advisor on Islamic Banking at the Bank of Ghana, Professor John Gatsi, has emphasized.
Speaking amid heightened public debate on the formal rollout of Islamic banking, Prof Gatsi explained that non-interest finance offers unique structures designed to deepen financial inclusion, drive infrastructure development, and support economic diversification, especially in trade and commerce.
“Non-interest banking and finance is poised to enhance our market economic structure. It will not outperform conventional structures because it is not a competitor. Rather, it plays crucial complementary roles in municipal, central government, and private sectors’ infrastructure and enterprise funding.” Prof Gatsi clarified.
Professor John Gatsi officially began his new role in May, taking the reins as head of a high-level technical team tasked with crafting Ghana’s long-awaited framework for Islamic finance. Professor Gatsi’s appointment, announced by Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama during the 124th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) briefing, also signals a significant shift from academia to national financial reform.
His comments come as the Bank of Ghana works to finalize regulatory frameworks for licensing Islamic financial institutions, paving the way for a model that prohibits interest-based transactions in line with Sharia principles.
Prof Gatsi cited international experiences to dismiss fears that Islamic banking could destabilize Ghana’s financial system. He highlighted countries such as the UK, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Turkey, Japan, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Uganda, Hong Kong, Singapore, Luxembourg, the US, and Malaysia, where Islamic and conventional banks co-exist seamlessly.
“These institutions have not even competed with conventional banks, let alone dismantled them. The apprehension that Islamic finance and banking will negatively affect conventional banks in the country is not rooted in progressive information widely available to regulators globally.” he said.
According to him, introducing Islamic banking will enable Ghana to achieve economies of scope, expand access to finance for underserved populations, and diversify funding sources for trade and commerce.
“Non-interest banking will achieve financial inclusion, diversification in financing trade and commerce, as well as project finance for government and the private sectors of the economy,” he noted.
Prof Gatsi also underscored the socio-economic benefits of Islamic finance in supporting the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly through empowerment of women entrepreneurs and ethical financing models that avoid speculative risk.
“Furthermore, non-interest banking and finance will provide unique support to women entrepreneurs and contribute to achieving the SDGs,” he added.
Analysts say Islamic banking has the potential to attract new capital flows into Ghana’s economy, especially from Middle Eastern and Asian investors seeking Sharia-compliant opportunities, while boosting confidence in the inclusivity of the financial sector.
As regulatory preparations continue, stakeholders await further directives from the Bank of Ghana to operationalise what experts describe as a transformative pillar for inclusive economic growth.
