The GABV Africa Chapter Meeting closed on past Friday in Accra, Ghana with a moving visit to the Kayayie Project, an initiative empowering vulnerable migrant women from northern Ghana through vocational training and holistic support. Meeting the women whose lives are being transformed was a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusive development and the impact that values-driven finance can help unlock.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 23 September 2025. Hosted by Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ghana (OISL), the meeting brought together Chapter members, prospective members, and partners for an energising exchange on critical topics shaping the future of finance, including artificial intelligence, innovative fundraising, and sustainable development strategies. The conversations opened the door to deeper collaboration on these issues across the region.
A poignant moment came as the Chapter bid farewell to Kwame Owusu Boateng, who hands over leadership of OISL to Ernest Yerekuu at the end of the month. In a symbolic gesture, Kwame presented the Chapter with its own Talking Stick, a beautifully carved wooden piece inspired by Adinkra symbols of leadership and collaboration, capturing the meeting’s spirit of honoring legacy while embracing new beginnings.
A new era for sustainable banking in Ghana
The gathering also served as a platform for the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to underline its bold vision for the future of finance. In his keynote address delivered by Mr. Ismail Adam, Director of Banking Supervision, Governor Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama highlighted the critical role of value-based banking in building an ethical, inclusive, and sustainable financial system.
Dr. Asiama called for a shift away from profit-centric banking models towards a triple bottom line approach that balances people, planet, and prosperity. He emphasised that in Ghana, where financial exclusion, youth unemployment, and environmental degradation remain pressing challenges, value-based banking provides a credible path to resilience and shared growth.
The BoG has already taken major steps in this direction, including the rollout of binding Sustainable Banking Principles, developed in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB). These principles require all licensed banks to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into their lending decisions and operations.
“Financial institutions should adopt inclusive, community-driven strategies that prioritise long-term impact over short-term gains. This includes investing in financial literacy, leveraging technology, forming strategic partnerships like Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd. is doing with GABV, and embedding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into core policies,” Mr. Adam emphasised.
With support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the BoG has delivered mandatory ESG training to all financial institutions, ensuring banks are equipped to embed sustainability into risk management, reporting, and lending practices. The Bank has also worked with the Chartered Institute of Bankers Ghana (CIB) to introduce an industry-wide Code of Conduct and E-learning programme, designed to strengthen ethical standards, restore trust, and promote financial integrity.
Regional collaboration for systemic change
While progress is evident, challenges remain. Infrastructure gaps, limited financial literacy, and the persistence of informal economies continue to slow adoption of sustainable practices. Dr. Asiama stressed that regional collaboration would be critical, noting that complex issues such as climate change, inequality, and economic instability demand collective solutions.
He urged GABV and its members to deepen platforms for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building across Africa, ensuring that financial institutions not only avoid harm but actively deploy capital to generate positive social and environmental impact.
Looking forward
The Africa Chapter Meeting in Accra reflected the growing momentum for values-based banking on the continent. It celebrated legacy and leadership transitions, highlighted community-centered innovation, and amplified the role of regulators in embedding sustainability into financial systems.
The Chairperson for the occasion, Ms. Alberta Quarcoopome, in her closing remarks, challenged other financial institutions to demonstrate greater responsibility in the delivery of financial services and to join hands in championing the values and principles of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV).
As the Africa Chapter looks ahead, the commitments made during this gathering reaffirm the shared vision of finance as a force for good, capable of driving peace, inclusion, and resilience for communities across Africa and beyond.
