Access Bank Ghana Plc has signed a Risk Sharing Guarantee Scheme with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to expand financing for Ghana’s cocoa sector, with a particular focus on improving liquidity for Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs).
The agreement was signed at a public ceremony in Accra and witnessed by officials from the Bank of Ghana, representatives of the IFC, Access Bank management, and members of the media.
Speaking at the event, the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Mrs. Matilda Asante-Asiedu, described the partnership as a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening Ghana’s agricultural value chain while supporting broader national goals such as financial inclusion, private sector development, and economic diversification.
She noted that the scheme is designed to provide working capital to LBCs, which play a critical role in Ghana’s cocoa purchasing system by linking smallholder farmers to international markets.
“Ensuring the liquidity and stability of Licensed Buying Companies is not just a commercial necessity but a national economic priority,” Mrs. Asante-Asiedu said, adding that their operations support rural livelihoods, export earnings, and foreign exchange stability.
The Deputy Governor commended the IFC for its continued commitment to Ghana’s economic development, describing the cocoa-sector collaboration as another demonstration of the institution’s long-term engagement with the country’s growth and resilience agenda.
She also highlighted improvements in Ghana’s macroeconomic conditions, citing restored stability through prudent monetary policy and fiscal discipline. According to her, inflation has returned to single-digit levels, confidence has strengthened, and economic growth has improved, creating a more predictable environment for banks to increase lending to productive sectors such as agriculture.
Mrs. Asante-Asiedu praised Access Bank Ghana Plc for its performance in the banking sector, noting that as of December 2025, the bank recorded total assets of GHS19.47 billion, representing 4.36 percent of industry assets. Customer deposits stood at GHS14.27 billion.
The bank also posted strong profitability indicators, including a Return on Assets of 3.75 percent and a Return on Equity of 21.58 percent, while maintaining a Non-Performing Loans ratio of 3.82 percent, reflecting what she described as sound risk management practices.
According to her, these indicators position Access Bank as a credible channel for development finance and an effective partner for international institutions such as the IFC.
The Risk Sharing Guarantee Scheme is expected to reduce lending risks for banks and enable increased access to credit for key actors in the cocoa supply chain, thereby strengthening Ghana’s export sector.
Mrs. Asante-Asiedu further encouraged the IFC to explore opportunities to issue green bonds within Ghana’s domestic capital market to support climate-aligned and environmentally sustainable projects.
She urged Access Bank to deploy the facility efficiently and responsibly to ensure the cocoa value chain remains competitive, resilient, and inclusive.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
