PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating effect of ownership on the links between corporate governance and financial performance in the context of Ghanaian banks.Design/methodology/approachThe current study used a sample of 23 banks and the multiple regression method to analyze a panel dataset of 414 from banks over an 18-year period.FindingsThe findings revealed that audit independence, chief executive officer (CEO) duality, non-executive directors and banks size have a positive impact on performance. The findings also revealed that foreign ownership has an interacting effect between corporate governance and profitability.Practical implicationsThe practical implications of the current study demonstrated that good corporate governance creates value and must be invigorated for the interest of all stakeholders. Foreign ownership has an interacting effect between corporate governance and performance. Policymakers should formulate policies for attracting foreign investors.Originality/valueInterestingly, this study is the first of its kind that exclusively chose ownership structure to interact between corporate governance and bank performance in Ghanaian perspective. Such new insights on this relationship provide useful information to the government, academics, policymakers and other stakeholders. The growing economies of African countries, and the inadequate governance–performance literature in African context, have created a demand to appreciate the governance parameters in these countries and its influence on firm's performance.

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PurposeThis study provides empirical evidence for the first time on how different measures of monetary policy affect banking profitability in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachProviding empirical evidence on how different measures of monetary policy affect banking profitability in Ghana using 29 banks for period between 2006 and 2016, new monetary indexes are developed and a robust panel random effect models is employed with year effect controls.FindingsThe results show that while increase in monetary policy basis point reduced banking profitability, average monetary policy rate stimulated banking profitability. Interestingly, the monetary policy basis point and rate indexes developed reduced and enhanced banking profitability, respectively. While these results may sound contradictory, they have both theoretical and empirical backing. Thus, basis point increments serve a monetary policy tightening condition which leads to higher loan prices, lower borrowing and declined profitability in the short run. However, in the long run, banks adjusted their loan prices and deposits to reflect basis point changes in their favor, hence the positive effect of average monetary policy rate on banking profitability. Additionally, monetary policy easing which represents decline in monetary policy basis point and rate enhances banking profitability.Practical implicationsThese findings imply bank managers may take advantage of monetary policy easing to maximize profits in the banking sector of Ghana. Also, the monetary policy committee must be mindful of monetary policy tightening through basis point change since upward basis point increments reduce banking profitability.Originality/valueThis study provides empirical evidence for the first time on how different measures of monetary policy (developing indexes from monetary policy basis point and monetary policy rate) affect banking profitability in an emerging economy as Ghana.

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The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of corporate social responsibility on financial performance to understand whether and how CSR policies impact the overall financial performance of listed banks in Ghana. Secondary data have been collected, content analysis was used to measure corporate social responsibility and financial performance, and a multiple panel regression approach using eight listed banks was used. Results indicate that corporate social responsibility is found to be positively and statistically significantly related to financial performance. Nevertheless, the effect of CSR is very weak. A significant relationship between size, inflation, and exchange rate and financial performance is found. For CSR to become development tool in Ghana, it is imperative that coordinated and concerted efforts must be undertaken at both private and public sector levels, in realising equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development.