The Bank of Ghana published remarks by Second Deputy Governor Matilda Asante-Asiedu at the signing ceremony for a Risk Sharing Guarantee Scheme between Access Bank Ghana Plc and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), presenting the credit guarantee as a way to de-risk and scale lending to Ghana’s agricultural sector, particularly the cocoa supply chain. The scheme is intended to provide working capital to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) that purchase cocoa domestically and link smallholder farmers to export markets. The speech framed LBC liquidity as a national economic priority tied to rural livelihoods, export earnings and exchange rate stability, and positioned the initiative as aligned with priorities including financial inclusion, stronger private sector participation and economic diversification. It also cited Access Bank Ghana’s reported end-December 2025 metrics, including total assets of GHS 19.47 billion (4.36 percent of industry assets), deposits of GHS 14.27 billion, Return on Assets of 3.75 percent, Return on Equity of 21.58 percent and a non-performing loans ratio of 3.82 percent. Looking ahead, the deputy governor encouraged the IFC to explore issuing green bonds in Ghana’s domestic capital market and making such instruments accessible to local banks to support climate-aligned projects, while urging Access Bank to deploy the facility efficiently and responsibly.
Bank of Ghana 2026-01-24
Bank of Ghana outlines IFC and Access Bank Ghana risk-sharing guarantee to expand cocoa value chain finance
The Bank of Ghana announced a Risk Sharing Guarantee Scheme between Access Bank Ghana Plc and the International Finance Corporation to enhance lending to Ghana’s agricultural sector, focusing on the cocoa supply chain. The initiative aims to boost liquidity for Licensed Buying Companies, supporting rural livelihoods and economic stability. The deputy governor also urged the IFC to consider green bonds in Ghana's market and encouraged responsible use of the facility by Access Bank.