Editorial: Women’s Develoment Bank to invest in women’s businesses

The establishment of a Women’s Development Bank is expected to help address longstanding credit access constraints facing women-led enterprises across sectors including trade, agriculture and technology.

First Deputy Governor Dr. Zakari Mumuni stated this at the 2025 African Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative meetings on June 20.

The move forms part of broader efforts to advance gender-inclusive financial policies.

In 2023, Ghana joined the African Development Bank’s AFAWA (Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa) initiative, supporting financial institutions to unlock credit for women entrepreneurs through risk-sharing and technical assistance.

Seed capital of over GH?51million was allocated in the 2025 budget toward establishment of the Women’s Development Bank, a campaign promise by President John Dramani Mahama prior to his election.

“Women’s financial inclusion is not a social obligation but a smart economic strategy,” Dr. Zakari Mumuni noted.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, during the 2025 Budget presentation, announced that government had allocated GH¢51.3million as seed funds for establishing the Women’s Development Bank.

The Women’s Development Bank  is a special-purpose bank run by women to support women-owned and women-led businesses with low-interest loans and other tailored financial services on very flexible terms.

AFAWA (Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa) is a pan-African initiative to bridge the US$42billion financing gap facing women in Africa.

Women are the backbone of the African economy. The African continent has the highest percentage of women entrepreneurs in the world.

Additionally, women typically reinvest up to 90% of their income in the education, health and nutrition of their family and community – compared to up to 40% for men. This means that investing in women’s businesses can transform societies.

The post Editorial: Women’s Develoment Bank to invest in women’s businesses appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story