Ecobank Pledges Continued Support for Women Entrepreneurs
By Sandra Agyeiwaa OTOO
Charlotte Amanquah, who leads Commercial Banking for Anglophone West Africa at Ecobank Ghana, has emphasized the bank's dedication to supporting women throughout different phases of their business growth.
She delivered these comments during the recently concluded 2025 Women in Business Dialogue Series, which had the theme 'Building an inclusive economy: expanding job opportunities for women via agriculture and tech' The event was an integral component of Ecobank's wider pledge to assist women entrepreneurs in Ghana through a combination of financial support and resources aimed at fostering business growth.
Mrs. Amanquah highlighted that women entrepreneurs make up the majority of those in business in Ghana. She stressed that enhancing support for these women would yield significant benefits, positively affecting stakeholders nationwide.
"As we have explored through different angles today, women constitute the majority in the business sector of our nation. The greater support we provide for these women, the more extensively their success will affect and benefit a broader spectrum of individuals or stakeholder groups across Ghana," she emphasized.
She emphasized Ecobank's newly introduced Enhanced Expanded Elevate Program, aimed at offering customized assistance for women throughout various phases of business growth. This program caters to women launching startups, overseeing SMEs, as well as female executives guiding up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
So, within Ecobank, we feel that our responsibility as a leading bank—top banking institution in this nation—is not only financial but extends to supporting businesses beyond just monetary means," she explained. "A little over a week back, we introduced an enhanced version of our Expand and Empower Program aimed at assisting women across different phases of business growth—from unregistered individuals all the way through registered small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and even executives looking to impart wisdom and guide budding entrepreneurs.
Mrs. Amanquah pointed out that Ecobank offers assistance with business structuring, regulatory adherence, tax matters, accounting practices, and succession planning for startup companies. For medium-sized businesses run by women entrepreneurs, the bank provides advantageous funding options—such as unsecured loans offered at reduced interest rates—to support scaling up their activities.
“She emphasized that women just beginning their journey require comprehensive support to develop skills and grasp what they are undertaking. This includes comprehending various phases, recognizing key players, adhering to rules and taxes, maintaining accurate records, and grasping the significance of succession planning to ensure the enterprise thrives regardless of the founder’s presence.”
"When these businesses reach the medium size category, we provide them with favorable financing rates to assist their growth towards the next stage. We at Ecobank are especially enthusiastic about our Elevate Program, designed to aid women entrepreneurs by offering loans without requiring collateral, available at competitive interest rates across multiple industries," she noted.
Mrs. Amanquah also highlighted that agribusiness continues to be a primary emphasis for the bank, offering accessible funding to women involved in activities such as food processing, produce aggregation, and inputs distribution. For bigger enterprises, Ecobank provides tailored trade assistance along with opportunities to enter expanded marketplaces.
By maintaining an emphasis on financial inclusion and skill development, Ecobank is generating fresh prospects for female entrepreneurs — fostering a more robust and equitable economic environment.
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