Ghana took center stage in Africa’s push for ethical and inclusive finance as Accra hosted the Africa Chapter Meeting of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), spotlighting the growing momentum behind value-driven financial systems across the continent.
Organised by Opportunity International Savings and Loans Limited (OISL), the forum brought together financial leaders, policymakers, and development partners to explore how banks can align profitability with social responsibility and long-term sustainability.
At the heart of the discussion was a clear message: banking must go beyond profit—it must drive meaningful economic inclusion, environmental responsibility, and community development.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ismail Adam, Head of Banking Supervision at the Bank of Ghana, called on financial institutions to take a more proactive role in transforming Ghana’s financial landscape.
“Banks and financial service providers must move beyond transactional thinking,” he said. “They need to embrace inclusive, community-based strategies that deliver lasting impact—through technology, financial literacy, and a firm commitment to ESG principles.”
Mr. Adam’s remarks underscored the Bank of Ghana’s support for innovation in finance, especially approaches that help close the financial inclusion gap in underserved communities.
The gathering also highlighted Ghana’s growing role in the global values-based banking movement. OISL, the only Ghanaian member of the GABV, served as the host of this year’s Africa Chapter Meeting, which included institutions from five African countries committed to using finance as a tool for social change.
Mr. Martin Rohner, Executive Director of GABV, emphasized the importance of ethical tech deployment—particularly the role of AI in expanding access to financial services while safeguarding customer rights and trust.
“We’re not just talking about innovation for innovation’s sake,” he said. “We’re focused on how banks can innovate responsibly, ethically, and inclusively.”
Other speakers reinforced this message. Mr. Fabian Kassi, Managing Director of Uganda’s Centenary Bank, called for a stronger integration of social impact into financial performance metrics, stating that the sector must develop solutions that directly uplift communities.
OISL CEO, Mr. Kwame Owusu-Boateng, echoed the need for integrity and high standards in financial service delivery, noting that trust is the foundation of any sustainable banking system.
The forum also featured insights from Ms. Alberta Quarcoopome, Chairperson of the occasion, who challenged financial institutions in Ghana and beyond to fully embrace the principles of values-based banking.
“Now is the time for banks to demonstrate leadership—not just in profits, but in how they treat people and the planet,” she asserted.
Representatives from key financial bodies, including the Ghana Association of Savings and Loans Companies (GHASALC), Ghana Microfinance Institutions Network (GHAMFIN), Development Bank Ghana (DBG), and insurance tech company Turaco, participated in the event, underscoring the multi-sector interest in values-based finance.
As Ghana continues to navigate a changing financial landscape, this high-level forum signaled a strong shift toward banking models rooted in ethics, inclusion, and impact—a model that could reshape the future of finance in Africa.
