2026 Budget: Gov’t Injects GH¢401m into Women’s Development Bank
Funding aims to improve access to affordable credit for women-led enterprises and small businesses
- GH¢401 million allocated to Women’s Development Bank to support women entrepreneurs and SMEs
- Funding targets market traders, small-scale manufacturers, and informal sector businesses
- Government also recapitalising major banks to boost credit access and private sector growth
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced a GH¢401 million allocation to the Women’s Development Bank (WDB) in the 2026 Budget to improve access to affordable financing for women entrepreneurs and small businesses nationwide.
Presenting the budget on Thursday, November 13, Dr. Forson emphasized that empowering women-led enterprises is a key pillar of Ghana’s economic transformation agenda.
He highlighted that the WDB will provide crucial financial support to women operating in the informal and small-scale sectors, including market traders and small manufacturers. The minister cited examples of women entrepreneurs he recently met at Takoradi Market Circle and Kotokoraba Market, such as Lamisi Adam, Priscilla Yovu, and Caroline Sfeir.
Beyond the WDB, the government plans to recapitalise major financial institutions to strengthen the banking sector and stimulate private investment. Dr. Forson noted that the National Investment Bank (NIB) has already been recapitalised, with plans to inject GH¢1 billion into the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and Consolidated Bank of Ghana (CBG) by the end of 2025.
The minister explained that these measures are aimed at making credit more accessible to productive sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and trade, which employ a large portion of Ghana’s workforce.
Dr. Forson reaffirmed that the 2026 budget is designed to provide “real capital behind the private sector” to create jobs, expand businesses, and sustain livelihoods, particularly for women and youth.
