Oragroup Posts Record H1 Profit After 2024 Loss

Banking

Monday, 29 September 2025 15:12

Oragroup Posts Record H1 Profit After 2024 Loss

Oragroup swung to a record net profit of CFA18.3 billion ($28 million) in H1 2025, after a CFAF 13.9 billion loss in 2024.
Results were driven by higher revenues, lower cost-to-income ratio, and reduced credit risk charges.
Deposits topped CFA3,000 billion, but loan growth slowed, raising concerns for SME financing.

Oragroup SA, the Lomé-based pan-African banking group, reported a record net profit of CFAF 18.3 billion ($28 million) for the first half of 2025, bouncing back from a CFA13.9 billion loss in 2024. It is the lender’s best performance since inception.

Operating profit reached CFA26.2 billion, more than double the level a year earlier. The bank attributed the turnaround to strong revenue growth, tighter cost control and a sharp drop in risk provisions, which fell to -CFA3.7 billion.

The lender said it continued cleaning up its loan book while adopting stricter lending standards. Deposits climbed past CFA3,000 billion, supported by a growing customer base. However, slower loan disbursements could weigh on SME financing, a key driver of regional economies.

“The results recorded in the first half of 2025 mark a turning point for Orabank,” CEO Ferdinand Ngon-Kemoum said. “The return to solid profitability reflects the relevance of the strategic choices made in recent years and the commitment of all our teams.”

He added that the bank will continue to execute its board-approved development plan, aimed at strengthening financial fundamentals, diversifying revenue sources and accelerating digital transformation.

Oragroup also highlighted its growing focus on social and environmental impact projects under its ESG strategy. Still, some decisions raise investor questions. The bank’s withdrawal from Fitch Ratings in favor of Bloomfield and Moody’s may be seen as an attempt to reduce exposure to stricter international standards.

The sharp swing from loss to record profit raises concerns about the sustainability of such gains, especially if part of the performance is tied to one-off measures.

Oragroup operates in 12 West and Central African countries including Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Mauritania, Senegal and Chad.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

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