BoG Backs IFC–Access Bank Risk-Sharing Deal to Boost Cocoa Financing
Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Mrs Matilda Asante-Asiedu, has underscored the central bank’s support for the Risk Sharing Guarantee Scheme between Access Bank Ghana Plc and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), describing the partnership as a strategic intervention to strengthen financing across Ghana’s cocoa value chain.
Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony in Accra, Mrs Asante-Asiedu said the scheme is designed to unlock growth opportunities within agriculture, particularly cocoa, while aligning with national priorities of expanding financial inclusion, deepening private sector participation and accelerating economic diversification.
According to her, the facility will provide critical working capital to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), which play a pivotal role in linking smallholder farmers to international markets.
“Ensuring the liquidity of LBCs 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,” she noted.
Mrs Asante-Asiedu said the Ghanaian economy has reached a more stable and resilient phase, supported by prudent monetary policy and disciplined fiscal management, which have helped restore confidence, support growth and bring inflation back to single-digit levels.
She indicated that the improved macroeconomic environment provides a strong foundation for banks to recalibrate their business models and expand credit to productive sectors such as agriculture, which remains critical for job creation, exports and overall development.
Commending Access Bank Ghana’s performance, the Deputy Governor revealed that as at end-December 2025, the bank recorded total assets of GHS19.47 billion, representing 4.36 percent of industry assets, while deposits stood at GHS14.27 billion, reflecting strong market confidence.
She added that the bank posted a Return on Assets of 3.75 percent and a Return on Equity of 21.58 percent in 2025, with a Non-Performing Loans ratio of 3.82 percent, highlighting disciplined credit underwriting and sound risk management.
“These strengths position Access Bank as a credible conduit for development finance, particularly in partnerships with reputable international institutions such as the IFC,” she stated.
Mrs Asante-Asiedu also encouraged the IFC to explore opportunities for issuing green bonds in Ghana’s domestic capital market, noting that such instruments could deepen sustainable finance and mobilise funding for climate-aligned projects nationwide.
She concluded by urging Access Bank to deploy the facility efficiently and responsibly to ensure Ghana’s cocoa value chain remains competitive, resilient and inclusive, while commending both institutions for advancing a partnership that de-risks agriculture and crowds in private capital.
