The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has directed commercial banks to reduce their non-performing loan (NPL) ratios to below 10 per cent by the end of 2026. The forum, supported by the BoG, was on the theme: “Financing distressed companies: The impact of NPLs, IFRS nine standards and prudential regulations on post-commencement financing for distressed companies under rescue and possible interventions.” On financing distressed companies, the Governor said Ghana’s Insolvency and Restructuring Act provided a framework for restructuring viable businesses instead of liquidating them. Dr Ishmael Yamson, Chairman of the occasion and Board Chair of Scancom PLC (MTN Ghana), acknowledged the decline in NPLs but cautioned that some regulatory measures could discourage banks from providing rescue financing. He said current requirements, including restrictions on dividends, bonuses and lending for banks with high NPL ratios, could affect institutions that provide post-commencement financing to distressed companies.