Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health, met with Ghanaian microentrepreneurs on Tuesday, November 3, during a focus group facilitated by Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd. to hear firsthand about their financial challenges, aspirations and experiences accessing financial services.
The discussion took place as part of Queen Máxima's November 2–5 official UN visit to Ghana, focused on advancing financial health through engagement with financial institutions, policymakers, businesses and the communities they serve.
The visit comes as Ghana continues its progress toward greater financial inclusion. According to the World Bank's Global Findex 2025, approximately 81 per cent of Ghanaian adults had an account at a financial institution or through a mobile money provider in 2024. Yet the 2021 FinScope Survey found that just 22 per cent of adults were financially healthy, underscoring the importance of moving beyond access to financial services toward meaningful improvements in household financial security.
The discussion brought together six entrepreneurs representing different business sectors. Participants explored how access to savings, credit, insurance and other financial products can help them manage day-to-day expenses, withstand financial emergencies and invest in their futures.
"For more than two decades, OISL has helped underserved Ghanaians access financial services, grow their businesses, and build more secure livelihoods," said Ernest Yerekuu, CEO of OISL. "We were honored to welcome Her Majesty Queen Máxima and demonstrate our commitment to delivering innovative, client-centered financial solutions that meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve."
OISL and Opportunity International Ghana, the network's local nonprofit partner, are part of Opportunity International's global network of financial institutions and nonprofit partners. Across 18 countries, the organization combines access to capital with training, technology and ongoing support to expand financial inclusion and create sustainable pathways out of poverty. In Ghana, this approach brings together OISL's financial products, including its community-based Susu savings service, with Opportunity International Ghana's financial literacy training, community savings groups and Farmer Support Agents.
"We've seen around the world that financial inclusion is only the first step toward lasting financial health," said Dr William Derban, Interim Project Director for Opportunity International Ghana. "Financial health means families can meet their everyday needs, keep a roof over their heads, and send their children to school without worrying about how they'll pay the fees. When entrepreneurs have that foundation of financial security, they can look beyond today's challenges and begin investing in a better future for themselves and their families."
During the discussion, participants shared their experiences navigating savings, investments and access to credit to pursue their personal and professional goals. With particular attention to healthcare, childcare and long-term savings, the group highlighted both the progress they have made and the ongoing challenges of building lasting financial security for themselves and their families.
Among the participants was Patience Mensah, a shop owner and member of an OISL Faith Group who has expanded her business into food supply, attracting a growing customer base in recent months. Access to working capital through OISL has helped support that expansion, creating new opportunities for Patience and her family.
While balancing business growth with the everyday financial needs of raising three children remains a challenge, she is beginning to build savings for the future. "I am a mother of three young children, so we of course face many challenges when it comes to financial health," said Mensah. "But in recent months my business has achieved more growth than ever before, and we are now starting to save little by little."