Sonzele Community Bank PLC delivered a strong financial performance in the 2025 financial year, recording impressive growth in deposits, loans, and total assets despite a challenging economic environment.
Presenting the Board of Directors’ report at the bank’s 36th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Jirapa, the Board Chairman, Michael Zurain, said the bank remained financially resilient and continued to strengthen its position as one of the country’s leading community banks.
He said customer deposits rose by 24.04 per cent, from GH¢53.99 million in 2024 to GH¢66.98 million in 2025, while loans and advances increased by 72.17 per cent from GH¢12.05 million to GH¢20.74 million.
Mr Zurain said the bank’s total assets also grew by 19.91 per cent, rising from GH¢70.31 million to GH¢84.31 million, reflecting improved operational performance and growing customer confidence.
Although short-term investments declined marginally by 2.6 per cent, he said shareholders’ funds increased from GH¢11.87 million to GH¢13.94 million, underscoring the bank’s strong financial position.
“The bank remains financially sound and continues to meet the prudential requirements of the Bank of Ghana and ARB Apex Bank PLC,” he stated.
The board has proposed the payment of a dividend of GH¢0.20 per share, subject to regulatory approval, marking a return to dividend payments after several years of suspension.
Mr Zurain appealed to shareholders who had not collected their previous dividends to contact the bank for payment.
He said the Bank of Ghana’s directive required all community banks to increase their minimum stated capital from GH¢1 million to GH¢5 million by December 31, 2026.
Mr Zurain described the recapitalisation exercise as both a regulatory requirement and a strategic opportunity to strengthen the bank’s long-term growth.
He said the board and management had launched an aggressive mobilisation campaign targeting existing shareholders, residents within the bank’s operational area, and natives of Jirapa living across Ghana and abroad.
He, therefore, urged shareholders to purchase additional shares to enable the bank to meet the new capital requirement and position it for sustainable growth.
Delivering a message on behalf of the managing director of ARB Apex Bank PLC, Fred Twereboa commended Sonzele Community Bank for its impressive operational performance, particularly the growth in total assets, lending, and net interest income.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lawra Community Bank, Attahah Diegol, also congratulated Sonzele Community Bank on its strong performance despite prevailing economic challenges.
He described the bank’s profitability as evidence of prudent management and urged shareholders to support the recapitalisation drive to secure the future of community banking in the Upper West Region.
Mr Diegol also appealed to political leaders and development partners to help improve infrastructure within the operational areas of rural and community banks.
Speaking on behalf of the municipal chief executive for Jirapa, the Assistant Director of the Jirapa Municipal Assembly, Anthony Kwame Ayekey, commended the bank for promoting financial inclusion and contributing to local economic development.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Nadowli-Kaleo, Mary Haruna, described the Bank of Ghana's recapitalisation policy as a strategic intervention that would enable community banks to expand lending, invest in technology, improve customer service, and build resilience against economic shocks.
