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Ghanaian Banks Begin Charging 5% Fee on Foreign Currency Withdrawals

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Commercial banks across Ghana have started implementing a 5% fee on all foreign currency (forex) cash withdrawals, following a new directive from the Bank of Ghana (BoG) aimed at curbing rising demand for foreign currency and stabilising the cedi.

The move comes as the central bank battles persistent pressure on Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves and volatility of the local currency. By imposing this fee, the BoG hopes to discourage unnecessary forex withdrawals and reduce speculative demand, which it says contributes to the cedi’s depreciation.

The 5% levy applies to cash withdrawals from foreign currency accounts, including U.S. dollars, euros, and pounds sterling.

It affects both individuals and businesses who withdraw physical forex from their accounts.

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The measure does not apply to electronic transfers or payments made directly from foreign currency accounts.

Banks have begun notifying their customers of the changes, with the charges taking effect immediately.

Many Ghanaians who regularly withdraw forex—such as travellers, importers, and business operators—will now pay higher transaction costs.
Some financial analysts warn this could push more people toward informal currency markets, while others believe it will help preserve Ghana’s dwindling forex reserves.

According to the Bank of Ghana, foreign currency withdrawals have surged in recent months, placing pressure on the nation’s reserves. The regulator believes that discouraging excessive cash withdrawals will help strengthen the cedi and improve liquidity management in the banking system.

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A statement from a BoG representative said the move is part of a broader strategy to “promote stability in the forex market and ensure prudent use of foreign currency resources.”

The directive has sparked mixed reactions among the public. Some customers see it as an added financial burden during a period of rising living costs, while others support it as a necessary step to stabilise the economy.

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Economy

See Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, September 9, 2026

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The Naira yesterday appreciated to N1,387 per dollar from N1,390 in the parallel market on Monday.

Similarly, the naira appreciated to N1,322.9 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, NFEM.

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that the indicative exchange rate for the naira fell to N1,322.9 per dollar from N1,320 per dollar on Monday, indicating N2.9 appreciation for the local currency.

Consequently, the margin between the parallel and official markets narrowed to N64.1 per dollar from N70 per dollar on Monday. The value of interbank turnover in NFEM declined by 48.07 percent to $55.6 million from $107.07 million on Monday.

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Economy

CBN tightens watch on banks over terrorism financing

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that it will be paying closer attention to how banks and other financial institutions in the country are being used, or misused, to move money that could fund terrorism.

In a statement signed by Hakama Sidi-Ali, Acting Director of the apex bank’s Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Department on Tuesday, the CBN said it has made terrorism financing supervision one of its current priorities. According to the statement, this is part of the bank’s “ongoing commitment to protecting the Nigerian financial system from abuse by illicit actors.”

What this means in plain terms is that the CBN will be looking more closely at how banks identify and manage the risk of their platforms being used to fund terrorism, how well they monitor suspicious transactions linked to terrorism financing, how they carry out sanctions ordered against specific individuals or groups, and how promptly they report suspicious activity connected to terrorism financing.

The statement explained that this new push covers four broad areas: how financial institutions manage terrorism financing risk, how they monitor transactions for signs of terrorism financing, how they carry out targeted financial sanctions, and how they report suspicious transactions linked to terrorism.

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The apex bank said it will not be sitting back and waiting for problems to surface on their own. Instead, it plans to use a risk-based approach, which means banks and institutions seen as more exposed to this kind of risk will attract closer attention.

This will involve both on-site inspections, where CBN officials visit institutions directly, and off-site checks, where the bank reviews reports and data from a distance.

The goal, the statement said, is to support “effective Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) controls across the financial sector,” referring to the fight against money laundering, terrorism financing, and the financing of weapons proliferation, all of which are governed by existing Nigerian laws and regulations.

The CBN also linked this move to Nigeria’s wider efforts, both at home and internationally, to fight terrorism financing and the financing of weapons proliferation, and to protect the integrity of the country’s financial system.

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The apex Bank did not name any specific institution under investigation or give a timeline for these actions, but noted that “further supervisory engagement will be undertaken as appropriate,” suggesting that more steps could follow depending on what its checks turn up.

For the ordinary Nigerian, the announcement signals that the CBN wants banks to be more careful and more accountable in how they track the movement of money through the financial system, particularly where there is any possible link to terrorism or the funding of violent groups.

It is also a reminder that financial institutions operating in Nigeria are expected to follow strict rules designed to keep the banking system safe from being used for illegal purposes.

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Economy

FG increases pension for soldiers

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The Federal Government has approved a new pensionable salary structure for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The new structure affects personnel in the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force and took effect from September 1, 2026.

The approval was contained in a circular issued on September 3 by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

Under the new arrangement, Generals, Admirals and Air Chief Marshals occupy the highest level, with their annual pensionable salaries ranging from ₦21.9 million to ₦29.75 million, depending on their salary steps.

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The highest figure works out to roughly ₦2.48 million per month when divided by 12.

Lieutenant Generals, Vice Admirals and Air Marshals will have annual pensionable salaries between ₦16.99 million and ₦25.91 million.

Major Generals, Rear Admirals and Air Vice Marshals will receive pensionable salaries ranging from about ₦14.98 million to ₦23.9 million annually.

For Brigadier Generals, Commodores and Air Commodores, the approved annual pensionable figures range from ₦13.86 million to ₦16.39 million.

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Colonels, Captains and Group Captains will have annual pensionable salaries between ₦8.31 million and ₦9.49 million, while Lieutenant Colonels, Commanders and Wing Commanders will fall between ₦7.55 million and ₦8.74 million.

Majors, Lieutenant Commanders and Squadron Leaders will have pensionable salaries ranging from ₦5.99 million to ₦7.01 million annually.

Captains, Lieutenants and Flight Lieutenants will receive between ₦5.28 million and ₦6.42 million.

At the junior officer level, Second Lieutenants, Midshipmen and Pilot Officers will have annual pensionable salaries ranging from ₦4.92 million to ₦5.59 million.

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The new structure also covers non-commissioned personnel.

Warrant Officers across the three services will have annual pensionable salaries between ₦4.53 million and ₦5.17 million, while Master Warrant Officers will receive between ₦3.94 million and ₦4.93 million.

Warrant Officers will have annual pensionable salaries ranging from ₦3.46 million to ₦4.35 million. Staff Sergeants, Petty Officers and Flight Sergeants will have figures between ₦2.98 million and ₦3.76 million.

Sergeants and Leading Seamen will have annual pensionable salaries ranging from ₦2.81 million to ₦3.16 million, while Corporals and Able Seamen will receive between ₦2.48 million and ₦2.73 million.

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Lance Corporals and Seamen will have pensionable salaries between ₦2.32 million and ₦2.58 million annually.

Privates, Ordinary Seamen and Aircraftmen will have figures ranging from ₦2.28 million to ₦2.49 million.

The government clarified that the amounts contained in the new schedule are meant for calculating pension benefits.

They should not be treated as the actual monthly salaries or take-home pay of serving military personnel.

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