Fidelity Bank Ghana, the largest privately owned Ghanaian bank, and the Design & Technology Institute (DTI), a leading privately accredited TVET institution providing world-class technical training, have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

This collaboration aims to train, mentor, and provide affordable funding for youth and female-led enterprises who have completed DTI’s Precision Quality (PQ) training programme, fostering innovation and sustainable business growth across Ghana.

The MoU, signed at Fidelity Bank’s head office in Ridge, Accra, sets forth a three-year framework for cooperation.

Under the agreement, Fidelity Bank will extend its inclusive banking and sustainable finance products—particularly through its flagship Fidelity Young Entrepreneurs Initiative (FYEI)—to eligible entrepreneurs identified and trained by DTI.

In turn, DTI will provide a curated list of trained candidates who have demonstrated the potential to grow their businesses.

Both parties will jointly organise capacity-building workshops and seminars, offering mentoring opportunities to ensure continuous monitoring and evaluation of the progress of funded entrepreneurs.

Reflecting on the importance of the partnership, Constance Elizabeth Swaniker, Founder and President of DTI, said, “as a business owner myself, I know the daunting challenge of accessing capital in Ghana. My journey, from Accent & Arts to DTI, began with a small seed capital from my mother.

"This partnership with Fidelity Bank is about creating opportunities I didn't have—opportunities for youth entrepreneurs, especially women, who often face unique barriers in accessing capital.

"Through our partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, we aim to empower 50,467 youth-led businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and Mastercraft persons (MCPs) over the next three years.

"By providing them with the Precision Quality training program, we seek to formalise the informal sector, enabling them to access capital and create tangible impacts, measured in successful businesses and the transformation of lives."

DTI will recommend entrepreneurs who have completed the Precision Quality training for funding opportunities facilitate workshops and seminars under the partnership.

Kwabena Boateng, Deputy Managing Director, Wholesale Banking, Fidelity Bank Ghana, emphasised the bank's commitment to fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

"Every year, Ghana produces a wealth of talented young people with incredible ideas. But often, they lack the resources and support to turn those ideas into thriving businesses.

"By partnering with DTI, we are leveraging their expertise in precision training with our ability to provide funding, to create a powerful engine for economic growth. We aim to shorten the journey to scale up, nurture their growth, and build a stronger foundation for Ghana's future."

The collaboration addresses critical challenges faced by SMEs, particularly the lack of formalisation and reliance on high-interest informal loans.

Nana Yaa Afriyie Duodu Ofori-Koree, Head of Partnerships, Sustainability & CSR at Fidelity Bank, stated: “This partnership is a catalyst for change. By empowering youth and female-led enterprises and unlocking access to concessionary capital, we are shaping a sustainable future that will transform Ghana’s business landscape.”

The partnership will roll out structured workshops and policy advocacy programmes, ensuring trained entrepreneurs have access to tailored financial products, capacity-building and mentoring opportunities, and creating a platform for sustainable business growth.

By aligning the strengths of Fidelity Bank’s innovative funding solutions with DTI’s expertise in Precision Quality training, the MoU sets a new benchmark for strategic collaboration in advancing financial inclusion and economic empowerment for MCPs and SMEs in Ghana.