Opportunity International Savings and Loans Limited, in collaboration with the Development Bank Ghana (DBG), organised a forum for private school owners and administrators at its Circle Branch in Accra.

This was part of the activities marking its 2025 Customer Service Week celebrations.

The event brought together key stakeholders from both institutions, including Ernest Yerekuu, Chief Executive Officer of OISL; Dr Francis Takyi, Chief Risk Officer of OISL; Sefakor Boadu, Head of Entrepreneurial Projects and Business Development at DBG; Stephen Yankey, Edu-Finance Manager at OISL; Richard Anyamesem, Head of Marketing for OISL; and James Ephraim, Area Head for the South-West Area of OISL, as well as other management and staff members.

In his opening remarks, Ernest Yerekuu emphasised that the forum was organised to foster open dialogue and gather feedback from clients to enhance OISL’s products and services.

He added that the session aimed to educate school owners and administrators on OISL’s loan requirements, processes, and digital platforms to enable them to access financial services more efficiently.

In a very interactive session, Dr Francis Takyi, Chief Risk Officer, engaged the participants on the five Cs of credit assessment, namely: Character, Capacity, Condition, Capital, and Collateral. He also emphasised the importance of proper record-keeping in private schools, the benefits of maintaining a good credit history, and the need to separate the financial activities of schools from personal finances.

The Edu-Finance Manager also engaged the participants on OISL’s credit delivery processes, including the loan application process, turnaround time, and post-disbursement protocols, offering practical guidance for school owners seeking financial support.

Speaking on behalf of DBG, Ms Sefakor Boadu reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting OISL’s Edu-Finance initiative, which seeks to expand access to credit for schools and women-led businesses across Ghana.

During the interactive dialogue session led by Richard Anyamesem, the clients shared valuable feedback on OISL’s products and services, particularly the Edu-Finance offering. Most concerns raised were addressed during the session, resulting in high levels of client satisfaction.

In his closing remarks, Ernest Yerekuu expressed appreciation to participants for their active engagement and constructive feedback.

He assured them of OISL’s continued support for both the formal and informal sectors, emphasising that the partnership with private schools aims to enhance access to finance within the education sector, thereby promoting growth and sustainability.

A total of about 50 school owners and administrators attended the forum.