The Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Matilda Asante-Asiedu, has urged financial institutions to stop viewing women entrepreneurs as a charitable group and instead recognize them as a commercially viable market segment.

According to her, women-led businesses have consistently demonstrated strong repayment records and prudent investment practices, making them reliable customers for financial institutions.

Speaking at the 2026 Ghana Female CEOs Summit, Mrs. Asante-Asiedu urged banks and other financial institutions to design women-focused financial products that will improve access to credit for women-owned enterprises.

She noted that research and industry data continue to show that women entrepreneurs have lower loan default rates compared to many other customer segments.

“So to the financial institutions, stop treating women entrepreneurs as a charitable constituency and start treating them as the most commercially compelling segment,” she stated.

Drawing from her experience in commercial banking, she stressed that data supports the argument for increased lending to women-led businesses.

“The women repay better, they invest more, they build wisely and they build resilient enterprises,” she added.

Mrs. Asante-Asiedu further appealed to banks to reconsider the high-risk premiums often attached to loans for women entrepreneurs.

She explained that customers with consistent repayment histories and a strong commitment to investing directly into their businesses should be rewarded with better pricing and lending terms.

“In banking, apart from the Ghana reference rate, we add what we call the risk premium. But if you have a customer who repays consistently and invests the money back into the business, then giving them the right price means your business will continue to thrive,” she noted.

The Second Deputy Governor also emphasized that supporting women-owned businesses has broader economic benefits, arguing that empowering women entrepreneurs can significantly improve household welfare and contribute to national economic growth.