The Development Bank Ghana (DBG) has launched a dedicated lending programme aimed at expanding access to finance for women-owned and women-led businesses across the country.
The initiative, which seeks to address long-standing challenges affecting women entrepreneurs, was unveiled as part of activities marking DBG’s fifth anniversary in Kumasi, where the bank engaged business owners, financial institutions and other stakeholders on Ghana’s financing landscape.
The DBG Women’s Lending Programme is designed to provide easier access to capital by tackling barriers such as strict collateral demands, complex documentation requirements, limited access to productive assets and high borrowing costs, which have often restricted women’s ability to grow their enterprises.
Chief Executive Officer of DBG, Professor Randolph Nsor-Ambala, said the programme reflects the bank’s commitment to reducing inequalities in access to long-term financing and supporting businesses with growth potential.
He explained that since its establishment in 2021, DBG had focused on bridging Ghana’s financing gap by providing wholesale funding and technical support to participating financial institutions to enable them to extend credit to businesses.
Prof. Nsor-Ambala said the women-focused initiative would benefit more than 1,000 women-owned and women-led enterprises between 2026 and 2028, with support targeted at businesses operating in sectors including agriculture, agribusiness, manufacturing, education, technology, creative industries, hospitality and services.
He noted that the programme was developed using a gender-sensitive approach to respond to the unique financing needs of women entrepreneurs across different regions and industries.
Under the initiative, beneficiaries will have access to simplified loan processes, flexible collateral arrangements, suitable credit packages, competitive interest rates and business advisory support to strengthen their operations.
The DBG CEO said the programme would also generate data and insights to support future expansion while attracting additional investment from development partners.
The anniversary event also provided a platform for entrepreneurs who had benefited from DBG-backed financing through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) to share their experiences and discuss challenges affecting business growth.
Participants highlighted the importance of sustainable financing solutions that allow small and medium-sized enterprises to expand, create jobs and contribute to economic development.
DBG said the women’s lending programme forms part of its broader mandate of supporting productive businesses and promoting inclusive economic transformation.
The bank expressed confidence that increased financial support for women entrepreneurs would help build stronger businesses, improve livelihoods and accelerate Ghana’s private sector growth.
