Building a strong culture of disciplined savings among small businesses and households is critical to long-term financial stability and enterprise growth, Managing Director and CEO of Advans Ghana Savings and Loans Ltd., Guillaume Valence, has said.
According to him, consistent saving remains one of the most effective tools for building financial resilience, enabling individuals and small businesses to withstand economic shocks, invest in growth opportunities and plan for the future.
Mr. Valence made the remarks at a special ceremony organised by the savings and loans company to reward clients who demonstrated exceptional financial discipline under the Advans Aha Ye D3 Promo, a three-month campaign designed to encourage customers to build regular saving habits.
“At Advans Ghana, our mission is to empower clients to build financial security for themselves, their families and their businesses. Savings is more than money set aside; it is the foundation for growth, opportunity and resilience,” he said.
He noted that while access to credit is often emphasised in discussions about small business growth, the role of savings is equally important in strengthening financial independence among entrepreneurs, particularly micro and small business operators.
According to him, disciplined saving provides a buffer that allows businesses to manage unexpected expenses, reinvest profits and gradually expand operations without excessive reliance on borrowing.
Mr. Valence explained that the Advans Aha Ye D3 Promo was designed not only to reward customers who saved the highest amounts but also to recognise those who demonstrated significant improvement in their saving behaviour over the three-month period.
The initiative offered weekly and monthly rewards ranging from cash prizes and household appliances to electronic gadgets, culminating in a grand prize for the client with the strongest overall savings performance.
The highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of Mrs. Agnes Naadu, owner of Agnaa Enterprise and a client of the Okaishie branch, who emerged as the overall winner of the promotion.
In recognition of her consistent savings discipline, she received a fully sponsored two-night trip to South Africa, including flights, accommodation and guided tours.
Mrs. Naadu said the initiative had encouraged her to strengthen her financial management practices.
“This promotion has motivated me to be more consistent with my finances. Winning the grand prize is a wonderful reward, and I hope my story inspires other entrepreneurs to take savings seriously,” she said.
Other awardees included Mr. Isaac Larbi, who received a 55-inch TCL television as first runner-up for strong savings growth, and Mr. Bernard Oduro, the second runner-up, who was presented with a mini fridge.
Branch-level winners were also rewarded with household appliances such as blenders, rice cookers and sound bars as part of efforts to reinforce the value of consistent saving.
Mr. Valence also highlighted the important role women entrepreneurs play in Ghana’s small business ecosystem, noting that women constitute the majority of the institution’s clientele.
He said the recognition of a female entrepreneur as the overall winner reflects the growing financial discipline and entrepreneurial strength among women-led businesses.
“Financial discipline is a journey, not a one-time achievement. Consistent effort today leads to tangible benefits tomorrow, and initiatives like this help demonstrate that saving can be both rewarding and empowering,” he said.
He added that the company will continue to design initiatives that encourage savings and promote financial literacy among its clients, particularly within the micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector.
A subsidiary of the Advans Group, Advans Ghana serves more than 130,000 clients through 19 branches across eight regions, focusing primarily on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and underserved segments of the population.
Licensed by the Bank of Ghana, the institution was incorporated in 2007 with the aim of expanding access to financial services and supporting the growth of small businesses across the country.
