The Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana are the “heartbeat of the nation’s economy,” and Stanbic Bank Ghana has declared its commitment to their growth and development.
During the 2025 International MSME Day event at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, Ms. Dinah Kaleo-Bioh, the Acting Head of Business and Commercial Banking at Stanbic Bank, made the announcement.
The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), MTN Ghana, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), GIZ, and the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry were among the important partners that attended the event, which had as its theme “Empowering MSMEs, Connecting Entrepreneurs for a Digital and Sustainable Future.”
Ms. Kaleo-Bioh discussed how MSMEs are essential to Ghana’s economic development.
“At Standard Bank, we live by the mantra: ‘Africa is our home, and we drive her growth.’ Here in Ghana, Stanbic says with pride that this country is our home—and by supporting the real engine of our economy, our MSMEs, we are driving the country’s future,” she said.
Over the past year, Stanbic Bank has disbursed more than GH¢163 million in unsecured loans, working capital, and asset financing solutions to more than 31,000 MSMEs in important industries like agribusiness, manufacturing, commerce, and services, she continued.
“True economic progress demands partnership. That’s why we work hand-in-hand with institutions like the Mastercard Foundation, Development Banks, GEA, and others—not only to provide funding but to build skills, nurture innovation, and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem,” she said.
One noteworthy project is the BRIDGE-In Agriculture initiative, launched in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, which aims to provide affordable financing and digital tools to unlock the potential of agribusinesses across the country.
Furthermore, through the Africa-China Trade Corridor, Stanbic Bank has helped over 50 SMEs in industries like cosmetics, cashews, and cocoa to reach international markets and increase their export presence by participating in international trade shows like the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) and the China International Import Expo (CIIE).
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Additionally, Ms. Kaleo-Bioh emphasized the significance of the bank’s premier entrepreneurship development program, the Stanbic Business Incubator. Since its launch in 2019, the incubator has provided consulting services, support for capacity-building, and access to local markets to more than 4,000 MSMEs, including more than 2,000 women-led enterprises.
On every June 27, the world celebrates International MSME Day to honor the vital role small businesses play in creating jobs, encouraging innovation, and advancing equitable and sustainable economic growth. Stanbic Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ghana’s MSMEs and demonstrating its belief that when small businesses grow, Ghana prospers at this year’s event.
