For decades, many visually impaired Ghanaians have had to depend on others to help them read bank forms, sign documents, or access financial services, often sacrificing their privacy and independence in the process. Now, that story is changing.
OmniBSIC Bank Ghana Ltd has introduced Braille-Assisted Banking Services, a groundbreaking initiative that allows visually impaired customers to manage their finances independently, securely, and with confidence.
Launched under the Bank’s Limitless Banking strategy, the new service is a major step toward redefining what inclusive banking means in Ghana, where accessibility, empowerment, and equality go hand in hand.
Empowering Independence Through Inclusive Banking
For the visually impaired community, simple banking tasks like opening an account or reading a statement can be daunting without assistance. OmniBSIC’s Braille-Assisted Services directly tackle this challenge by providing key documents in Braille, giving customers control over their own financial decisions for the first time.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service, about four percent of the population, more than 1.2 million people, live with visual impairment. For many, this innovation marks a long-awaited shift toward independence and inclusion in Ghana’s financial system.
Daniel Asiedu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of OmniBSIC Bank, said the initiative goes beyond technology and is about empowerment.
“At OmniBSIC, we believe banking should be for everyone, everywhere. Our Braille-Assisted Services are about restoring dignity and independence,” he said.
“Accessibility is not a privilege; it’s a right. Every customer deserves to feel confident and respected when engaging with their bank.”
Mr. Asiedu added that OmniBSIC plans to expand similar accessibility initiatives to reach all persons with disabilities across its network.
Collaboration to Drive Inclusion
As part of the 2025 Global Customer Service Week, themed “Mission: Possible,” OmniBSIC deepened its inclusion agenda through an engagement with students of the University of Ghana’s Assistive Technology Lab, under the Institutional Advancement Directorate, Information Technology Directorate, and the Centre for Disability Studies and Advocacy (CEDSA).
The event gave the bank firsthand insight into the experiences of visually impaired individuals and how financial institutions can design better, more inclusive services.
Mrs. Chidinma Braye-Yankee, Group Head of Corporate and Support Services, said true inclusion begins with empathy and collaboration.
“We don’t presume to know what our customers with disabilities need. We listen, learn, and co-create solutions that make every interaction meaningful,” she said.
“Inclusive banking is not optional, it’s essential. Through initiatives like this, we are building a system where no one is left behind.”
Technology Meets Empowerment
OmniBSIC officials toured the University’s Assistive Technology Lab, where they observed students using voice-assisted computers and screen readers.
Engineer Francis Kwabena Boakye, Chief Information Technology Officer of the University, lauded the visit as the first of its kind by a financial institution.
“This collaboration connects academic innovation with real-world application. Together, we can ensure technology truly empowers everyone,” he said.
Mr. Alexander Bankole Williams, Head of the Assistive ICT Lab and a veteran accessibility advocate, praised OmniBSIC’s initiative, describing it as a milestone for Ghana’s financial inclusion drive.
“Financial inclusion for persons with disabilities is not a matter of charity, it’s a right,” he said, referencing the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715). “Accessibility must be seen as both a legal and moral duty.”
Professor Joana Salifu Yendork, Director of CEDSA, urged other customer-facing institutions to adopt a “total inclusivity approach,” ensuring all clients receive equal respect and access, regardless of disability.
Expanding Inclusive Access Nationwide
OmniBSIC has already begun rolling out Braille-Assisted Services across its 40-branch network, alongside staff training on visual impairment awareness and disability-inclusive service delivery.
The initiative aligns with the Bank of Ghana’s Financial Inclusion for Persons with Disability Directive and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10, which promotes the inclusion of all people in social and economic systems.
As the bank continues its digital transformation journey, its focus remains clear: banking that empowers every customer to thrive independently.
“True innovation is not about technology alone,” said Mrs. Braye-Yankee. “It’s about people. And at OmniBSIC, we are ensuring that every person, regardless of ability, can take control of their financial future.”
With its Braille-Assisted Services, OmniBSIC Bank is setting a new standard for inclusive banking in Ghana, one that restores independence, promotes equality, and ensures that no one is left behind in the nation’s financial growth story.
