Development Bank Ghana (DBG) has marked its fifth anniversary with a bold new commitment to transform access to finance for women entrepreneurs, unveiling a dedicated lending programme designed to tackle the long standing barriers that have limited the growth of thousands of women-owned businesses across the country.
The milestone celebration, held in Kumasi, brought together entrepreneurs, participating financial institutions, development partners and industry stakeholders for a customer appreciation and business dialogue that highlighted the bank’s impact over the past five years while setting the stage for an ambitious new chapter in inclusive financing.
At the heart of the event was the official launch of the DBG Women’s Lending Programme, a flagship initiative expected to support an estimated 1,000 women-owned and women-led businesses between 2026 and 2028.
Five Years of Closing Ghana’s Financing Gap
Since its establishment in 2021, Development Bank Ghana has focused on bridging the country’s long-term financing gap by providing wholesale capital and capacity-building support to Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs). Rather than lending directly to businesses, the bank channels funding through financial institutions to reach enterprises that often struggle to secure affordable long-term financing.
The anniversary celebration served as an opportunity to reflect on the bank’s journey and the success stories that have emerged through its financing model.
Entrepreneurs from different sectors shared inspiring testimonies of how DBG-backed financing helped them overcome business challenges, expand operations and create employment opportunities. Their experiences underscored the growing importance of patient capital in helping Ghanaian businesses unlock their full potential.
The event also created an avenue for honest discussions between business owners, financial institutions and DBG executives on the persistent financing challenges confronting small and medium-sized enterprises across Ghana.
CEO Celebrates Entrepreneurs, Not Just the Bank
Chief Executive Officer of Development Bank Ghana, Prof. Randolph Nsor-Ambala, said the institution’s greatest achievement lies not in its own existence but in the success of the entrepreneurs it has supported over the past five years.
“Five years ago, DBG was established to do one thing: close the financing gap preventing Ghana’s most productive businesses from reaching their potential. Today we celebrate not what we have done, but what the entrepreneurs in this room have done with the capital, the tenors and the terms we were able to provide. Their success is our mandate made visible.”
Chief Executive Officer of Development Bank Ghana, Prof. Randolph Nsor-Ambala
His remarks captured the institution’s commitment to ensuring that businesses across the country receive financing tailored to support sustainable growth rather than short-term survival.
New Programme Targets Women’s Biggest Financial Challenges
The launch of the DBG Women’s Lending Programme was the highlight of the anniversary celebrations.
The initiative is specifically designed to address structural barriers that continue to prevent many women entrepreneurs from accessing affordable credit.
Among the challenges the programme seeks to tackle are high collateral requirements, strict documentation processes, limited ownership of productive assets and higher borrowing costs that disproportionately affect women-owned and women-led enterprises.
Operating through DBG’s wholesale financing model, the programme will provide funds to participating financial institutions that demonstrate strong commitment to serving women entrepreneurs through innovative lending approaches.
These institutions will be encouraged to offer simplified documentation processes, flexible collateral arrangements, appropriately sized loan packages, competitive pricing and integrated business advisory services that improve the chances of long-term business success.
Inclusive Growth at the Centre of DBG’s Vision
Prof. Nsor-Ambala stressed that empowering women entrepreneurs is not only a social objective but also an economic necessity for Ghana’s future.
“Women entrepreneurs are critical to Ghana’s economic future. Through the DBG Women’s Lending Programme and our participating financial institutions, we are creating practical pathways for more women-owned businesses to access the capital they need to grow, create jobs and build resilient enterprises. Five years in, this is what inclusive development finance looks like in practice.”
Chief Executive Officer of Development Bank Ghana, Prof. Randolph Nsor-Ambala
His comments reflected the bank’s determination to make financial inclusion a central pillar of Ghana’s economic transformation by ensuring that more women can participate meaningfully in productive sectors of the economy.
Wide Range of Businesses Set to Benefit
The new lending programme is expected to reach businesses operating across several strategic sectors of the economy.
Eligible enterprises include those involved in agriculture and agribusiness, manufacturing, education, technology, creative industries, hospitality and a wide range of service-based businesses.
The programme adopts a persona-based design framework that recognises the different financing needs of women entrepreneurs across Ghana. Whether supporting a smallholder farmer in the Northern Region or a manufacturing SME owner in Kumasi, the initiative aims to provide financing solutions that reflect the realities of each business.
Beyond funding, the programme seeks to strengthen the capacity of beneficiaries through business development support delivered alongside participating financial institutions.
Regional Expansion to Deepen Access
Following the official launch, DBG plans to organise regional activation events in the Ashanti and Northern Regions to connect more women entrepreneurs with financing opportunities and business advisory services.
The bank also intends to generate evidence from the programme’s implementation to support future expansion while attracting additional development partner resources that can further strengthen women’s access to finance.
As Development Bank Ghana celebrates five years of operations, the launch of the Women’s Lending Programme signals a renewed commitment to building a more inclusive financial ecosystem where women entrepreneurs have greater opportunities to grow thriving businesses, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s long-term economic development.
