Editorial: Bolstering deposit protection fund

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Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama has indicated that the Ghana Deposit Protection Fund will undergo strategic changes and be diversified into gold, foreign exchange reserves and high-grade sovereign securities to ensure both liquidity and value preservation.

This is to ensure the country’s financial safety net and improve payout readiness during institutional distress. The Governor outlined this at the inauguration of a new board for the Ghana Deposit Protection Corporation (GDPC).

At the centre of the fund reform agenda is a shift away from passive reserve accumulation to an active portfolio management approach.

The new investment strategy will see the Deposit Protection Fund allocate resources across gold, FX reserves, high-grade sovereign bonds and supranational instruments to ensure both liquidity and value preservation.

Also considered is setting up emergency credit lines and formal backstop funding arrangements to ensure liquidity is available when needed. “Our goal is to ensure that GDPC is always payout-ready – because in a crisis timing is everything,” Dr. Asiama said.

Governor Asiama also reiterated the importance of legislative reform to expand the Corporation’s mandate beyond reimbursement to include early intervention powers. Parliament is expected to consider amendments to the Ghana Deposit Protection Act in coming months.

In addition to financial and legal reforms, the new GDPC board will be expected to oversee a revised strategic plan post-2025 that aligns with international standards.

This includes integration of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, greater digitisation and stronger cybersecurity protocols.

Beyond infrastructure and systems, human capital will also be a key focus for the incoming board. Capacity building in risk-based resolution planning, digital forensics, cybersecurity and global governance frameworks will be prioritised.