Banks and finance houses are being encouraged to look beyond conventional credit requirements when assessing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as limited financial records and weak cash-flow management continue to constrain access to finance.
The Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana (CIB Ghana), in partnership with the Ghana Investment Support Programme (GhISP), held a two-day workshop in Accra on October 15 and 16, 2026, to strengthen the capacity of SME portfolio managers from banks and selected finance houses.
The training focused on gender-responsive, climate-smart and inclusive approaches to SME financing, including ways to assess businesses that may have growth potential but lack formal records or established structures.
Traditional lending assessments can exclude otherwise viable businesses when they do not meet conventional documentation requirements. The workshop introduced participants to alternative ways of evaluating creditworthiness, including cash-flow analysis, business models and other indicators of business viability.
SMEs play a significant role in employment creation and economic activity, but many struggle to secure financing because of weak financial records, governance gaps, poor cash-flow management and limited investment readiness.
The workshop covered SME business models, governance and risk assessment, credit analysis, cash-flow-based lending, gender-responsive finance, inclusive product design, climate risk and green financing.
CIB Ghana Chief Executive Officer, Robert Dzato, said improving lending practices was important to expanding access to finance and supporting sustainable SME growth.
Participating financial institutions were encouraged to apply the lessons to their credit assessment processes, product development, portfolio management and engagement with small businesses.
The Accra workshop is the first of two planned under the initiative, with a second session scheduled for Kumasi in November 2026.
The effectiveness of the training will ultimately depend on whether participating institutions translate the lessons into lending decisions that enable viable businesses, including women-led and climate-responsive enterprises, to secure the capital they need to grow.
