United Bank for Africa (UBA) Ghana is stepping up its support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and indigenous businesses as the financial institution positions itself as a key partner in Ghana’s industrial transformation.
The bank’s renewed financing push comes as it prepares to participate in the 2026 Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition (GISE), where it is expected to engage manufacturers, entrepreneurs, investors and other players shaping the country’s industrial future.
Organised by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), GISE 2026 will be held from September 15 to 17 at the Underbridge Annex, East Legon, Accra, under the theme “Driving Sustainable Export-led Industrial Growth Through Energy Reliability and Digital Innovation.”
UBA Targets SMEs With Fresh Financing Push
For UBA Ghana, the summit presents an opportunity to deepen its engagement with businesses and demonstrate how financial services can help companies expand operations, increase production and compete in increasingly demanding markets.
Speaking to the media ahead of the summit, Henry Nii Dottey, Regional Head, Brand, Marketing & Corporate Communications, UBA, said the bank’s participation reflects its broader commitment to entrepreneurship, industrial development and African trade.
“Supporting entrepreneurship, industry and trade is central to who we are as Africa’s Global Bank. Businesses today require much more than a bank account. They need access to finance, efficient payment systems, markets, trade solutions and a financial partner that understands their growth ambitions.”
Henry Nii Dottey
His comments underline the growing importance of tailored financing as businesses seek to overcome capital constraints and invest in expansion.
Bank Focuses on Business Cash Flows
According to Dottey, one of the biggest obstacles confronting businesses is not merely access to financing but the ability to secure funding that reflects the realities of their operations.
He argued that financing must be structured around the cash-flow cycles of enterprises to ensure that repayment obligations do not undermine business growth.
“Affordable financing must go beyond making money available. It must be accessible and appropriately structured. The repayment profile must recognise the cash-flow cycle of the business if financing is to become a genuine catalyst for sustainable growth.”
Henry Nii Dottey
UBA Ghana offers a broad range of financing solutions to businesses, including working capital, asset and vehicle finance, invoice discounting, local purchase order financing, overdrafts and credit lines.
The bank also provides import finance, bonds and guarantees, giving businesses access to financial instruments designed to support different stages of their operations.
Industrial Expansion Takes Centre Stage
The renewed focus on SME financing comes at a critical period for Ghana’s industrial ambitions.
Businesses seeking to increase production capacity need funding to purchase equipment, acquire vehicles, improve facilities and adopt modern technologies. Export-oriented firms also require adequate working capital to meet larger orders and compete beyond Ghana’s borders.
Dottey said UBA’s participation in GISE is particularly relevant because this year’s focus on export-led industrial growth will require businesses to access appropriate financial support.
“Ghana’s industrial transformation cannot happen without strong businesses, and strong businesses need strong financial partners. The financial sector must help enterprises invest, increase productive capacity, embrace technology and become competitive locally and internationally.”
Henry Nii Dottey
The statement places financial institutions at the centre of Ghana’s industrialisation agenda, particularly as SMEs continue to play a major role in employment, production and entrepreneurship.
UBA Eyes Bigger African Market for Ghanaian Firms
UBA Ghana is also looking beyond domestic financing.
With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) creating opportunities for businesses to access markets across Africa, the bank believes Ghanaian companies must increasingly look beyond the local market.
Dottey said UBA’s Pan-African footprint gives Ghanaian businesses an avenue to explore opportunities across the continent while addressing some of the financial barriers associated with cross-border trade.
“For a Ghanaian SME or manufacturer, Africa should increasingly be viewed as an addressable market rather than a collection of disconnected economies. Our responsibility as a Pan-African bank is to help remove some of the financial barriers that make it difficult for businesses to trade across borders.”
Henry Nii Dottey
UBA provides cross-border and trade solutions including PAPSS, AfriTrade, Africash and UBA Connect to support transactions across African markets.
Digital Payments Could Unlock More Trade
The bank also sees payment innovation as critical to the success of AfCFTA.
For businesses trading across borders, delays in receiving payments and difficulties paying suppliers can increase costs and create operational bottlenecks.
“If we want African businesses to trade more with one another, payments cannot remain a barrier. Technology and financial innovation must make it easier for an entrepreneur in Accra to transact with customers and suppliers elsewhere on the continent.”
Henry Nii Dottey
Dottey stressed that digital innovation should produce practical results for businesses by improving payment speed, cash-flow management and cross-border transactions.
UBA Wants Direct Engagement With Businesses
At GISE 2026, UBA Ghana plans to go beyond displaying its financial products.
The bank intends to engage directly with manufacturers, SMEs and entrepreneurs to understand their financing needs, growth plans and expansion ambitions.
“We are coming to GISE not simply to showcase UBA, but to listen, engage and build relationships. We want businesses to speak to us about their growth plans, the challenges they face and the markets they want to enter, so that together we can explore financial solutions that support those ambitions.”
Henry Nii Dottey
Dottey said UBA’s ultimate ambition is to make it easier for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to establish strong businesses locally and expand into markets across Africa.
“We want to make it easier for an entrepreneur in Ghana to build a strong business here and have the confidence and financial capability to do business in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Zambia and across Africa.”
Henry Nii Dottey
“That is what we mean when we say UBA is Africa’s Global Bank. We are building bridges between African businesses, African markets and African opportunities,” Dottey concluded.
With SMEs demanding more flexible financing, efficient payment systems and access to new markets, UBA Ghana’s GISE 2026 participation could provide another major platform for businesses seeking the financial muscle to scale.
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