Ghana's financial sector urged to shift from inclusion to financial health

Elhanan Owureku Asare, head of FinTech and Innovation at the Bank of Ghana, said the country must move beyond expanding access to financial services and focus on improving citizens' financial well‑being. While Ghana has broadened payment access and account ownership, products that provide long‑term security—such as savings, responsible credit, insurance and pensions—remain out of reach for many, especially women, informal‑sector workers, rural residents, persons with disabilities and MSMEs. Asare called for a transition to “financial health,” urging regulators, banks, fintech firms and policymakers to develop inclusive products that build resilience and channel savings into productive investment.

Henry Ampong, Executive Director of Corporate and Investment Banking at Ecobank Ghana, echoed the need for digital innovation to deepen financial inclusion across Africa. He highlighted Ecobank’s pan‑African platform serving millions in over 35 countries and cited initiatives like the mobile‑first Express Account that allow customers to open accounts without visiting a branch. Ampong stressed that technology is reshaping how people live, work and transact, and that digital transformation is central to Ecobank’s purpose of expanding economic opportunity.