Deputy Chief of Staff Nana Oye Bampoe Addo has raised concerns about the persistent exclusion of women in Ghana’s informal sector from formal financial services, despite their significant contribution to the economy.
Speaking at the National Policy Dialogue on Financial Inclusion and Social Protection for Informal Sector Workers in Accra on Thursday, April 16, 2026, she disclosed that women, who make up 63.4 percent of Ghana’s labour force, receive less than 10 percent of formal financial services.
According to her, women in markets, agriculture, food vending, and small-scale enterprises remain among the most economically active citizens, yet continue to face barriers in accessing credit, insurance, and pensions.
“Women contribute an estimated 40 percent of informal sector output, but remain the most excluded,” she stated.
The policy dialogue, organised by the Centre for Social Justice at the Airport View Hotel, brought together policymakers, civil society groups, and development practitioners to discuss practical solutions for improving financial inclusion.
Nana Oye said the government’s proposed Women’s Development Bank is expected to address some of these challenges by providing low-interest loans and tailored products for women-led businesses.
She described the initiative as a key step toward empowering millions of Ghanaian women engaged in trading, farming, catering, dressmaking, and other enterprises.
She further urged financial institutions to design products that are accessible, affordable, and responsive to the realities of women in the informal economy.
Participants at the forum also stressed the need for financial literacy, trust-building, and simpler loan processes to help bridge the inclusion gap.
The dialogue forms part of broader efforts to ensure that economic growth benefits workers in both formal and informal sectors.
By Celestine Edem Gbologah//Theresa Kpordzo
