Access Bank supports women in agribusiness
The Access Bank Ghana is extending finance and business training, as well as mentorship to women-owned businesses in the agriculture value chain as part of the 2023 Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton competition.
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This forms part of the bank’s commitment to promoting women's initiatives under its flagship programme for women, the ‘W’ Initiative.
Originally held for all subsidiaries by the Access Bank Group, the past two seasons, four and five have been championed in Ghana to enable more participation from across the country.
Speaking on the latest edition of the Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton competition, the Executive Director for Retail and Digital Banking at the Access Bank Ghana, Pearl Nkrumah said season five offered opportunity to women in Agribusinesses to build their capacity in business management and receive financial support for their businesses.
“The training will be organised by the GIZ AgriBiz Programme and will cover important topics including Strategic Planning, Digital Marketing, Market Alternatives & Growth Strategies, Business Planning, Financial Management, Costing & Pricing. These are meant to build their capacity to navigate the business terrain to be profitable,” she also shed light on the prizes for season five.
“The top 3 finalists will each receive seed capital of GH¢100,000. Other participants will receive consolation prizes including free website development, digital advertisement and a cash prize of GH¢30,000. All top 50 will also receive post-business coaching support from January to March 2024. The managing director’s special award of GH¢20,000 will go to the most eco-friendly business in the competition.
Speaking at the orientation ceremony, the Zonal Head of Retail Banking, Josephine Eva Arthur, reiterated the bank’s support for women. She said, “the Mastercard Index report on women entrepreneurs in Africa reveals that Ghana is at the top. However, many businesswomen have issues with sustaining their businesses as many fold up within three to four years of operation. She noted that the Access Bank has been proactive in supporting women to change this narrative. “We saw the need to come in to support women CEOs like yourself to build your technical competencies and help you to set your business structures to ensure business continuity and growth. Once we empower women, we get to do better as an economy”
On his part, the Project Lead for the GIZ AgriBiz Programme, Christoph Pannhausen said the goal of the Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton competition aligned with that of the GIZ, as they seek to support small, micro and medium businesses, especially in the Agricbusiness sector. He explained that the BMB was going to equip the women with practical useful business tips that would help them boost their businesses and encouraged the 50 finalists to make the most from the training.
