Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, has been appointed to chair a consultative subcommittee on Ghana's proposed Non-Interest Banking and Finance framework.
The committee's establishment followed a high-level engagement between the BoG and representatives of major Christian and ecumenical bodies on September 1, 2026, during which concerns were raised about aspects of the proposed framework and its implications for Ghana's religiously pluralistic society. Rather than treating those concerns as opposition, stakeholders agreed that they should be addressed through further dialogue, public education and wider consultation.
As Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, Afriyie-Ankrah's role is to facilitate dialogue among Ghana's faith communities and help build understanding around issues capable of generating religious or social tensions.
His intervention comes at a time when the BoG is seeking to explain that Non-Interest Banking is not the introduction of a religious banking system, but a regulated financial model designed to operate alongside conventional banking.
At the September 1 engagement, BoG Governor Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama stressed that the central bank was not introducing a religious system into Ghana's banking sector. He explained that Non-Interest Banking is intended to provide an inclusive and non-discriminatory alternative within the country's financial system.
Afriyie-Ankrah emphasised the importance of dialogue, warning that inadequate information could create misconceptions while the absence of dialogue could allow assumptions to replace facts. The committee is expected to provide a structured avenue for stakeholders to raise concerns, make recommendations and seek clarification from the BoG.
The central bank's December 2025 exposure draft explained that the initiative is intended to support economic growth, deepen financial inclusion, promote sustainable development and create new jobs.
Parliament has already recognised non-interest banking services as a permissible banking activity under Section 18(1)(r) of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930). The BoG has consulted with Christian and Islamic leaders over the past year, including the Christian Council of Ghana, Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference and the National Association of Charismatic and Christian Churches.
Afriyie-Ankrah urged participants to engage openly and respectfully, saying the ultimate objective should be to strengthen trust between public institutions and faith communities while contributing to Ghana's peace, stability and development. He expressed confidence that the engagement would lead to a better understanding of the framework and help address concerns within the Christian community.