Fidelity Bank’s managing director, Mr. Julian Opuni, has offered investors a road map for navigating Ghana’s financial environment in 2026.
He stated that next year would be the ideal time for strategic capital deployment because the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was expected to increase in an interview with the Global Investor, a journal that is distributed at high-level summits worldwide.
He said, “Ghana’s improving macroeconomic outlook should drive progress across sectors, fostering stronger conditions for investment and business growth.”
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), agriculture, sustainable extractives, and regional commerce are the four growth engines he listed for the upcoming year.
Mr. Opuni described the Bank’s position in the ecosystem, emphasizing key collaborations and investments with Proxtera and the Mastercard Foundation, and emphasized the contribution of small enterprises to employment, innovation, and local value.
He clarified that these partnerships had improved high-potential companies’ access to funding and technical assistance, providing “scalable and diversified opportunities for investors.”
Regarding agriculture, Mr. Opuni stated that horticulture and agri-processing had significant potential for foreign exchange and employment development.
“Our work with FAGE, the Export Club, and initiatives like Bridge in Agric, which has disbursed over GHS 145 million, is helping to formalise and grow the sector,” he stated.
He pointed out that the sector was becoming more organized and appealing to investors thanks to government initiatives like the Feed Ghana project.
The Banker discussed how Fidelity Bank was using technology for “efficiency, and deeper inclusion,” touching on the quick digitization of Ghana’s banking industry.
He told Global Investor, “At Fidelity Bank, digital innovation drives both internal transformation and external growth; key pillars of a future-ready institution.”
“We’re using automation to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve speed. Upgrades to our Mobile App and USSD platforms, plus innovations like Kukua, our WhatsApp banking assistant, have led to higher transaction volumes and stronger customer engagements.”
He mentioned the banks’ partnership with fintechs to address the underserved market’s loan access issue.
Additionally, we’re working with fintech companies to build tools that go beyond traditional banking, such behavioral credit scoring and cash-flow-based lending.
He explained that “We’re also co-developing tools with fintechs that go beyond traditional banking, like cash-flow-based lending and behavioral credit scoring. This digital ecosystem is unlocking new opportunities for embedded finance and data-driven innovation.”
Mr. Opuni emphasized the Bank’s sustainability approach, which encompasses Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainable Finance, and Sustainable Operations. He highlighted the high potential categories of agriculture, renewable energy, and youth-led businesses.
He cited the GreenTech Innovation Challenge and the Fidelity Young Entrepreneurs program as examples of how the bank backed businesses that were “scalable and aligned with both commercial and impact investor goals,” further solidifying the bank’s long-standing relationship with companies.
Source: newsthemegh.com