Speech by Mrs Matilda Asante-Asiedu, Second Deputy Governor at the IFC-ACCESS Bank Ghana Agreement Signing Ceremony
Source: bank_of_ghana
Date: 2026-01-24

IFC-ACCESS BANK GHANA AGREEMENT SIGNING CEREMONY THE RISK SHARING GUARANTEE SCHEME BETWEEN ACCESS BANK GHANA PLC AND THE IFC REMARKS BY MRS. MATILDA ASANTE-ASIEDU SECOND DEPUTY GOVERNOR BANK OF GHANA The Division Director for West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea, for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), The Board, Managing Director, Management and Staff of Access Bank Ghana Plc, Directors from the Bank of Ghana, Distinguished Guests, Members of the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen. Good morning. I am delighted to join you today, not only to witness this momentous signing ceremony, but also to reconnect with many familiar faces in an institution where I spent more than a decade and half of my professional life. The Risk Sharing Guarantee Scheme between Access Bank Ghana Plc and the International Finance Corporation represents a strategic partnership to unlock growth and opportunity within Ghana’s agricultural sector. As I see it, this scheme is designed not only to harness opportunities along the cocoa value chain, but also to align closely with our national priorities of expanding financial inclusion, strengthening private sector participation, and accelerating economic diversification. This scheme is strategically designed to provide essential working capital to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs)—the backbone of Ghana’s domestic cocoa purchasing system. Given their critical role in linking smallholder farmers to global markets, ensuring their liquidity is not merely a commercial objective, it is a national economic priority. Their stability safeguards rural livelihoods, strengthens export earnings, and supports exchange rate resilience. Permit me, Ladies and Gentlemen, to extend my heartfelt congratulations to both IFC and Access Bank Ghana Plc on this milestone. The IFC has consistently demonstrated strong commitment to Ghana’s economic transformation through impactful investments, partnerships, and development finance. This latest collaboration in the cocoa sector further reinforces its dedication to Ghana’s long-term economic resilience and prosperity. The Ghanaian economy is at a pivotal stage—stronger and more resilient than it has been in recent years. Through prudent monetary policy implementation and disciplined fiscal management, we have restored macroeconomic stability, strengthened confidence, supported GDP growth, and brought inflation back to single-digit levels. This improved and predictable macroeconomic environment provides a strong foundation for banks to recalibrate their business models and expand financing to the real and productive sectors, particularly agriculture—a sector that is central to job creation, improved livelihoods, export growth, and national development. I believe it is also fitting to commend the Management and Staff of Access Bank Ghana Plc for their consistent growth, and meaningful contribution to Ghana’s banking sector. As at end- December 2025, the Bank recorded total assets of GHS 19.47 billion, representing 4.36 percent of industry assets. Its ability to mobilise GHS 14.27 billion in deposits reflects strong market confidence, customer loyalty, and institutional credibility. Beyond balance sheet expansion, Access Bank delivered strong profitability in 2025, achieving a Return on Assets of 3.75 percent and a Return on Equity of 21.58 percent. Equally notable is its Non-Performing Loans ratio of 3.82 percent, underscoring disciplined credit underwriting and robust risk management practices. These strengths position Access Bank as a credible and dependable conduit for development finance, particularly in partnerships with reputable international institutions such as the IFC. The signing ceremony we witness today marks a significant advancement in financing Ghana’s cocoa supply value chain. Through the provision of a credit guarantee, the IFC is lowering barriers to finance, enabling safer and more scalable lending to key actors who sustain Ghana’s export economy. As we look ahead to the future of sustainable finance in Ghana, I would also encourage the IFC to explore opportunities for the issuance of green bonds in our domestic capital market. Making these instruments accessible to local banks would further embed sustainable finance within our financial system and unlock critical funding for climate-aligned and environmentally responsible projects nationwide. On behalf of the Bank of Ghana, I once again commend Access Bank and the IFC for achieving this important milestone. This partnership exemplifies how strategic credit guarantees can de-risk agriculture, crowd in private capital, and advance national development objectives. We encourage the Management of Access Bank to deploy this facility efficiently, responsibly, and impactfully, ensuring that Ghana’s cocoa value chain remains competitive, resilient, and inclusive. Thank you for your kind attention.