President Mahama, Queen Máxima discuss financing for Ghanaian women

President John Dramani Mahama has met Queen Máxima of the Netherlands to discuss ways to improve women’s access to loans and other financial services in Ghana.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly and focused on helping more women access the financing they need to start and grow their businesses.

Queen Máxima, who serves as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, has been advocating for improved access to financial services, particularly for women and other underserved groups.

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The meeting comes at a time when many Ghanaian women have bank and mobile money accounts but continue to face difficulties accessing sufficient credit to support their businesses.

Figures for the second quarter of 2026 show that women and women-owned businesses accounted for 82.8% of secured credit transactions in Ghana. However, they received only GH¢3.1 billion in loans, compared with GH¢19.4 billion received by men and male-owned businesses.

The figures highlight a significant gap between women’s participation in secured credit transactions and the amount of financing they receive.

Ghana has made progress in expanding women’s access to financial services. In 2024, about 78.3% of women aged 15 and above had a bank or mobile money account, compared with 27.1% in 2011.

However, the figure remained below the 84.4% recorded among men, indicating that women continue to face barriers to accessing financial services.

The meeting has also drawn attention to the proposed Women’s Bank, which is expected to help women access financing and grow their businesses.

Other key areas include reducing the cost of loans, making it easier for women to meet lending requirements and providing long-term financial support for women-owned businesses.

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Queen Máxima has continued to advocate for financial systems that give women greater access to financing and opportunities to improve their livelihoods.

For Ghana, the challenge is no longer simply helping women open bank accounts. It is also ensuring that they can access sufficient financing to expand their businesses and create jobs.

The meeting between President Mahama and Queen Máxima has renewed calls for stronger financial support for women to enable them to contribute more meaningfully to Ghana’s economic growth.



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