Fidelity Bank’s Deputy Managing Director for Wholesale Banking, Mr. Kwabena Boateng, has urged the financial sector, government, and private sector players to “move from gatekeeping to gardening,” representing a shift from cautious lending to active partnership in building the nation’s productive capacity. Speaking at the 14th Ghana Economic Forum held at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel, Mr. Boateng emphasized that the real anchor of Ghana’s currency lies not only in its reserves but in the productivity of its industries and people.
The forum, organized by the Business & Financial Times, centered on the theme “Currency Value Addition – A Reset for Sustainable Economic Growth.” Mr. Boateng told participants that what gives a currency its real value is not the paper it’s printed on or the reserves behind it, but the productivity that sustains it. “The more we invest in the sectors that create value agriculture, manufacturing, and exports the more stable and resilient our currency becomes,” he said.
He noted that while Ghana’s economy has made impressive strides in stabilization, growing by 6.3 percent in the second quarter and recording single-digit inflation of 9.4 percent, financing patterns still reveal an imbalance. The services sector continues to expand rapidly, accounting for over 42 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and receiving 36.8 percent of all bank credit, while manufacturing attracts just 12.4 percent and agriculture, despite its vast potential, receives a fraction of that.
“We have a powerful economic vehicle, but the power isn’t distributed evenly to all its wheels,” he observed. Mr. Boateng cautioned that this uneven distribution creates vulnerabilities, urging financial institutions and policymakers to address the “financing conundrum” that perpetuates high risk and underinvestment in productive sectors.
The key obstacle, he diagnosed, is the perception of risk, noting the agriculture sector’s high non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 54.2 percent. “This creates a cycle of caution: high risk leads to less lending, which leads to under-investment, which in turn perpetuates the very risks we fear. To achieve a true economic reset, we must break this cycle,” he explained.
To address this challenge, he called for a systemic reset combining finance, policy support, innovation, and partnerships. Citing Fidelity Bank’s ongoing initiatives, Mr. Boateng said the bank is actively demonstrating how patient, purposeful capital can unlock growth in high-impact sectors.
He highlighted two flagship Fidelity Bank initiatives as proof of concept for this systemic change. The BRIDGE-in-Agriculture Programme, implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has disbursed over GH¢94 million to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and smallholder farmers, focusing on youth and women entrepreneurs. Combined with direct lending of GH¢220 million this year, Fidelity’s total agricultural support now exceeds GH¢314 million. Beyond finance, the programme provides technical assistance, market access, and training in climate-smart agriculture.
The Greentech Innovation Challenge initiative supports young innovators solving major agricultural challenges in areas like precision agriculture. The bank’s GH¢2 million total investment in these green pioneers has already seen the first cohort generate over GH¢13 million in revenue, with some expanding to Nigeria and Sierra Leone. This validates the strategy of coupling innovation with patient capital.
“These programmes show that when you combine patient capital with innovation and technical support, you can turn high-risk sectors into high-impact ones,” Mr. Boateng remarked. The success of these initiatives demonstrates that perceived risks in productive sectors can be mitigated through structured support and strategic partnerships.
Looking ahead, he urged stronger public-private partnerships to de-risk the real economy, promote export-linked financing, and expand access to green and inclusive finance for women and youth entrepreneurs. He further called for accountability mechanisms that measure not only credit volumes but their tangible impact on value creation, exports, and jobs.
Concluding his address, Mr. Boateng reaffirmed Fidelity Bank’s resolve to be an active catalyst in Ghana’s transformation journey. “At Fidelity, we do not simply lend; we partner to build. We want to see a Ghana where our currency is strong, our industries vibrant, and our people, especially our youth and women empowered to create lasting value,” he said.
The 14th Ghana Economic Forum brought together government officials, policymakers, private sector leaders, and development partners to deliberate on strategies for driving sustainable economic recovery and growth. The gathering provided a platform for stakeholders to explore practical approaches to addressing Ghana’s economic challenges while building on recent macroeconomic stability gains.
