Fidelity Bank Ghana has urged stronger stakeholder collaboration and harmonised trade systems to unlock the nation's full trade and enterprise potential. The bank specifically highlighted the need for targeted institutional support to remove structural barriers. These barriers currently hinder Ghanaian traders and entrepreneurs, especially women, from achieving their full capacity.
This call came from two senior leaders at the Breaking Barriers to Trade conference. Fidelity Bank participated as a speaker, addressing trade modernisation and women-led enterprise development. Aaron Ameyaw, Director of Banking Operations, identified data quality and fragmented customs systems as pressing obstacles. These issues impede trade growth within Ghana and across the broader West African region.
Mr. Ameyaw emphasised that artificial intelligence (AI) holds significant promise for transforming commerce. However, he noted that AI's effectiveness relies entirely on the quality of underlying data. He stated, "In Ghana, data is a problem. These AI machine learners thrive on data. And so if your data is not correct, you have big issues." This highlights a fundamental challenge for adopting advanced technologies in the country's trade sector.
He further pointed to the harmonisation of customs regimes across neighbouring countries as a long-unaddressed priority. Traders, particularly women, importing goods from places like Lomé or Nigeria, face excessive bureaucracy. This unnecessarily slows commerce and increases costs for businesses. Streamlining these processes could significantly boost regional trade efficiency.
Mr. Ameyaw welcomed the Publican AI System, introduced in early 2026, which complements the Integrated Customs Management System at Ghana's ports. He noted this system has already contributed to a revenue growth of over US$300 million. This demonstrates the positive impact that effective technology partnerships can deliver in public finance and trade facilitation. Fidelity Bank itself has implemented robotic process automation for its reconciliation processes, improving efficiency and freeing staff for higher-value tasks.
Alex Agyei-Amponsah, Director of SME Banking, focused on the specific realities facing women-led businesses in Ghana. He noted that women own between 38% and 46% of businesses in the region. Mr. Agyei-Amponsah argued that the challenge for these entrepreneurs is not a lack of ambition, but rather structural impediments. He explained, "It is not a desire to not grow their business. They actually desire to grow. But the difficulty has been: how can I manage this to the level that I can still take care of the family and still meet other obligations?"
Fidelity Bank addresses these issues through its Fidelity Young Entrepreneurs Fund. This programme targets women and youth aged 18 to 40, extending to 45 for women. It guides entrepreneurs from the idea stage through incubation to becoming funded, market-ready businesses. The fund offers financing at concessionary rates. It also provides programmes designed to help entrepreneurs meet regulatory and compliance requirements, which often block market access. This comprehensive support aims to build sustainable enterprises.
Mr. Agyei-Amponsah also highlighted the bank's approach to group lending as a way to expand access to finance. He cited an example of a member of the Federation of Associations of Ghana Exporters. This individual participated in a yam export contract to Canada as part of a group. This opportunity would have been inaccessible to her individually. He stated, "That is how gradually we are doing it. Once this facility is approved and the yam is exported, the next time around that woman's business will be able to secure a contract by herself."
For Fidelity Bank, these two key interventions—trade modernisation and women's enterprise development—reflect a core belief. They believe that breaking barriers to trade requires both the right systems and institutions. These institutions must be willing to meet people where they are, providing tailored support for economic advancement. This holistic approach aims to foster inclusive growth across Ghana's economy.