Mr Eric Appiah, National President, Association of Rural Banks (ARB)-Ghana says women’s empowerment is crucial to the growth and sustainability of Ghana’s rural banking sector.
Speaking at the 10th Rural Banking Week Celebration and the Second ARB Women’s Conference in Ho, he stated, “We must continue to create spaces for women to serve on our boards, lead institutions, and influence sectors… When women rise, the entire rural community banking sector rises.”
The conference, themed, “Driving Sustainable Financial Inclusion and Good Governance in Rural and Community Banks through ESG Principles,” highlighted the importance of gender leadership, innovation, and inclusion in rural finance.
The event featured presentations from notable speakers, including Mrs Matilda Asante-Asiedu, Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, stressing the need for deliberate mentorship, capacity building, and policy alignment to elevate more women into executive roles.
Mr Appiah said women in rural banking had demonstrated exceptional resilience and commitment, driving growth and sustainability in the sector, and urged stakeholders to support women’s empowerment initiatives and promote gender equality in leadership positions.
“Women continue to nurture strong governance practices and sustainable growth model within the Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) and so are indispensable to the growth, resilience, and long-term sustainability of rural banking.
Let’s fund capacity building programmes especially for women in leadership, advocate for gender diversity at board and executive levels to strengthen partnership that fosters shared mentorship and financing needs of women, to also enhance women’s role in advancing financial inclusion for small and medium enterprises, for traders, for farmers and our local households.”
He celebrated women in RCBs for their strength, contribution and their leadership saying, “on behalf of the National Council and reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to support, promote the advancement and champion initiatives that positioned women at the forefront of their sector’s transformation.
“As we celebrate this milestone, let us remember the future of rural banking is promising because women are lighting the path ahead,” he added
Mama Atrato II, Queenmother of Ho-Dome in the Asogli Traditional Area, who chaired the event underscored the need to ensure that RCBs remained strong, compliant, and served as catalyst for financial inclusion and sustainable development in communities across the country.
She said the joint celebration marked a decade of collective progress, innovation and transformation and as well, served as a reminder to “let us celebrate more inclusive and supportive environment that empowers women in all fields, especially the banking sector.”