Access Bank Ghana, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has earmarked about GH₵1 billion in 2025 to support cocoa purchasing activities and value chain operations.
The Managing Director of the Bank, Pearl Nkrumah, said the facility would assist licensed buying companies and other actors within the cocoa sector to enhance productivity and strengthen Ghana’s export base.
She noted that the Bank’s support for cocoa purchases had grown significantly over the past five years, rising from an initial GH₵100 million to the current GH₵1 billion allocation.
According to her, the increased investment reflects the Bank’s commitment to boosting Ghana’s agricultural sector, particularly cocoa, which remains one of the country’s leading export commodities.
Ms Nkrumah indicated that the Bank is also exploring opportunities to extend similar support to other cash crops such as cashew and shea.
Speaking to the media in Kumasi, she explained that Access Bank Ghana had established an export desk to provide trade finance solutions for farmers and agribusinesses.
She said the desk offered trade lines that enabled exporters to access foreign exchange and improve their participation in international markets.
In addition, the Bank, through collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, has disbursed concessional loans to agribusinesses at a single-digit interest rate of about four per cent.
Ms Nkrumah disclosed that approximately 40 percent of beneficiaries of these low-interest loans were based in the Ashanti Region.
She reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to seeking strategic partnerships to expand support for agriculture and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.
Beyond financing, she highlighted the Bank’s focus on environmental sustainability, noting that several initiatives were being implemented to promote responsible business practices.
These include programmes in waste management, carbon reduction, green building and renewable energy solutions, with a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2027.
Key interventions include the “Waste is Useful” recycling project, tree planting campaigns, and the operation of an IFC-certified EDGE green head office designed to reduce energy and water consumption.
Ms Nkrumah said the Bank, which operates in more than 50 locations nationwide, continued to invest in initiatives that support environmental conservation, community development and social impact across sectors such as health, education and enterprise development.
She emphasised that integrating sustainability into banking operations remained critical to long-term economic growth and national development.
