An assessment of the effect of liquidity risk, credit risk and capital risk on the financial performance of five selected banks in Ghana.

An assessment of the effect of liquidity risk, credit risk and capital risk on the financial performance of five selected banks in Ghana.

Nana Amma S.S. Marfo

This study is conducted to assess the effect of financial risk on profitability of five commercial banks listed at the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE). Profitability was proxied by ROA and served as the dependent variable in the research model. Capital risks proxied by total capital to risk weighted assets, Liquidity risk measured by current ratio, and Credit risk proxied by nonperforming loan to total loans were adopted as indicators of financial risk. They also served as the independent variables in the study while bank size which is a control variable was measured using natural log of total assets (Ln Assets). Secondary data obtained from the financial statements and annual reports of the chosen banks were the predominant source of data for the analysis. The data covered a five year period (2012-2016). Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and regression analysis were respectively performed on the obtained data. The Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) software was used for the data analysis. The study found from the correlation analysis that a negative but statistically significant linear association exists between profitability and bank size (r=-.014, p=0.024); profitability and capital risk (r=-0.038, p=0.011); and profitability and credit risk (r=-0.124, p=0.013). The relationship between liquidity risk and profitability was positive and statistically significant as shown by an r and p values of 0.037 and 0.021 respectively. This implies that the banks were able to manage this risk in such a way that it tends out to positively affect their profitability. The correlation results were further supported by the regression coefficient results which recorded a negative relationship between profitability and capital risk, credit risk and bank size. The relationship between profitability and liquidity risk is however positive. The result further revealed a significant effect of all the independent variables on profitability.

MBA FINANCE

14th January 2018