The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has issued a new directive mandating stricter controls over outsourcing practices within Ghana’s financial sector. The regulation aims to enhance governance and risk management across banks, specialized deposit-taking institutions (SDIs), financial holding companies, and development finance institutions.
Under the directive, regulated financial institutions (RFIs) have until 1 July 2025 to comply, or risk facing an administrative fine of GH₵12,000. This move reinforces the BoG’s commitment to maintaining high standards in the sector amid a growing trend of outsourcing key services to streamline costs and operations.
The BoG’s guidelines specify which core functions RFIs are permitted to outsource with prior approval, while prohibiting outsourcing for high-stakes responsibilities to preserve independence and integrity. Functions such as senior management duties, strategic oversight, credit decision-making, anti-money laundering compliance, internal audit, risk management, and cybersecurity must remain within the organization.
However, certain arrangements, such as those with payment card schemes like Visa and MasterCard, as well as settlement arrangements, will not be considered outsourcing under the directive.
To facilitate the transition, BoG has directed all regulated financial institutions to review their existing contracts well ahead of the July 2025 deadline, ensuring adjustments align with the new standards by either the renewal date of contracts or 30 June 2025. Institutions are required to submit a materiality assessment framework to BoG by 2 June 2025.
Outsourcing of non-core functions does not require BoG’s prior approval, provided the activity is not governed by any other relevant legislation. However, institutions must notify BoG at least 10 working days before engaging an external provider.
Under these regulations, any outsourcing arrangement must safeguard against the disclosure of customer information without explicit consent. BoG’s penalties for non-compliance include a fine of one thousand penalty units, or GH₵12,000, as well as potential remedial measures under the applicable laws.
These measures highlight the BoG’s focus on safeguarding Ghana’s financial sector from strategic, reputational, and operational risks associated with outsourcing, reinforcing the sector’s stability and resilience.
Source:TheDotNews