For many Ghanaians outside the major cities, rural and community banks remain one of the closest links to formal financial services. But new data from the Bank of Ghana shows that these institutions also accounted for a significant share of cash-related fraud cases recorded among specialised deposit-taking institutions in 2025.
Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) recorded 56 cash suppression cases during the year, representing 51% of all cash suppression incidents reported across the SDI sector, according to the Bank of Ghana’s 2025 Fraud Report.
Cash suppression, one of the most common forms of fraud within SDIs, involves the improper withholding or misappropriation of funds by individuals who handle cash within an institution.
The figures come at a time when overall fraud cases among SDIs declined sharply. The sector recorded 182 fraud cases in 2025, compared with 344 cases in 2024, representing a 47% reduction.
Cash suppression cases also fell significantly, dropping from 267 cases in 2024 to 109 cases in 2025, a 59% decline.
Despite the fall in reported incidents, fraud exposure within the SDI sector increased during the year. The total value at risk rose by 77%, from about GH¢4.5 million in 2024 to GH¢8 million in 2025.
The increase was largely linked to forgery and manipulation of documents, which recorded the highest value at risk among SDIs at GH¢4.2 million. The Bank of Ghana noted that GH¢4.1 million of this amount came from one institution.
Cash suppression recorded a value at risk of GH¢1.7 million in 2025, with Rural and Community Banks accounting for 90% of the cash suppression value reported within the SDI sector.
The data shows a changing pattern of fraud within Ghana’s smaller financial institutions. While the number of reported cases has declined, cash handling and documentation-related fraud remain key areas reflected in the sector’s reported exposure.
For rural and community banks, which serve customers in many communities where access to banking services is limited, maintaining effective internal controls remains central to protecting deposits and sustaining confidence in local financial services.
