Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC increased its profit after tax by 10 per cent to GH¢320 million in the first half of 2026, with revenue reaching GH¢798 million, as the bank looks to sustain growth through its international network, cross-border services and wealth management business.
The figures were presented at the bank’s 2026 Facts Behind the Figures stakeholder engagement session at the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), where management discussed its financial performance, business priorities and contribution to the Ghanaian economy.
Chief Executive Officer, Xorse Godzi, said the bank would continue to use its international network and cross-border capabilities to connect businesses, financial institutions and individual clients to opportunities in global markets.
He said the bank’s strategy was centred on helping clients navigate international markets while expanding its wealth management services to meet the needs of customers seeking to build and preserve their assets.
The focus on cross-border services comes as businesses operate across increasingly connected markets and require access to international banking networks to support trade, investment and other commercial activities.
Strong performance in 2025
The first-half results follow a strong performance in 2025, when Standard Chartered Ghana recorded a return on equity of 28 per cent.
Its earnings per share rose to GH¢5.97 in 2025, from GH¢5.31 in 2024, reflecting an increase in earnings attributable to each ordinary share.
The bank also declared a dividend of GH¢673.48 million at its 2025 Annual General Meeting, providing a return to shareholders from its performance during the year.
Its balance sheet expanded by 15 per cent in 2025, while management said the bank continued to meet applicable regulatory and capital requirements.
The growth in the balance sheet reflects an expansion in the bank’s financial position, although the quality and sustainability of that growth will also depend on its ability to manage risks and generate income efficiently.
Chief Financial Officer, Albert Larweh Asante, said the bank’s results reflected the strength of its balance sheet, its approach to risk management and the allocation of capital across its operations.
He said management would continue to prioritise income growth, operational efficiency and shareholder value as it works to sustain the bank’s performance.
These priorities will require the bank to grow its business while maintaining controls over risk and costs in a competitive financial services market.
Funding opportunities for young people
Beyond its core banking operations, Standard Chartered Ghana highlighted its social investment programmes, including GH¢4.6 million channelled through the Standard Chartered Foundation to support disadvantaged young people.
The programmes place particular emphasis on young women and persons with disabilities, with support directed towards employability and entrepreneurship.
The initiative is intended to help beneficiaries develop skills, improve their readiness for employment and explore opportunities to establish or grow businesses.
The bank also reported supporting climate finance in Ghana through a $200 million World Bank Clean Cooking Outcome Bond. It said $30.5 million in climate finance had been mobilised for Ghana through the initiative.
According to the bank, the programme is expected to benefit about 1.3 million people and reduce emissions by more than 1.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Clean cooking initiatives seek to expand access to cooking solutions that reduce reliance on more polluting fuels and technologies. Their impact depends on whether households can access and continue using the alternatives, as well as the extent to which they replace existing cooking methods.
130 years of banking in Ghana
Standard Chartered began operating in Ghana in 1896 and is marking 130 years in the country. It has been listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange since 1991.
Over the period, the bank has provided financial services to individuals, businesses and institutions, including clients involved in trade, investment and infrastructure development.
At the stakeholder session, management outlined its financial results alongside its priorities for growth, customer services and sustainability.
The first-half profit increase provides an indication of the bank’s performance in 2026 so far. Its ability to sustain that growth will depend on how effectively it expands revenue, manages operating costs and risks, and responds to the changing needs of its customers.
