Ghana Export–Import Bank (GEXIM) is embarking on a major strategic shift in its lending policy that could significantly reshape the country’s productive economy.
This is because the Bank plans to dedicate not less than 70% of its total loan portfolio to the poultry, garments and rice value chains, while allocating the remaining 30% to complementary sectors that support industrial stability and growth.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GEXIM, Mr. Sylvester Adinam Mensah, explained that the policy direction is anchored in data-driven decision-making and international best practice.
The initiative, he added, is also aimed at strengthening domestic production, reducing import dependence, creating jobs and positioning Ghana’s economy on a more sustainable, export-oriented footing.
Mr. Sylvester Mensah announced these an end-of-year media engagement in Accra, where he outlined what he described as a deliberate “reset” of the Bank’s development mandate.
Resetting agenda
The GEXIM CEO said the decision to prioritise poultry, textiles and rice reflects a conscious effort to place agriculture and light manufacturing at the centre of Ghana’s industrial transformation.
He explained that the new lending focus is informed by extensive sector studies and lessons drawn from peer economies that have successfully used targeted financing and supportive policies to build strong domestic industries.
“This is not guesswork. Our financial decisions going forward are guided strictly by data, sector studies and international experience,” Mr Sylvester Mensah emphasised.
Lessons from Côte d’Ivoire and Europe
The GEXIM CEO disclosed that a recent fact-finding mission to Côte d’Ivoire provided valuable insights into how deliberate policy choices can rapidly transform domestic production.
He noted that Côte d’Ivoire enforces strict regulations that prohibit the importation of dead or frozen chicken, allowing only live birds into the country.
As a result, domestic poultry production has expanded significantly, private investment has increased and local entrepreneurs have found sustainable business opportunities.
Mr Sylvester Mensah believes similar targeted financing by GEXIM, backed by complementary government policies, could unlock comparable outcomes in Ghana.
He said in addition to this, international case studies from Italy and other European countries have influenced the Bank’s thinking, particularly in addressing recurring gluts in Ghana’s poultry industry.
Tackling poultry gluts through value addition
Despite Ghana’s inability to fully meet local demand for poultry products, Mr. Sylvester Mensah acknowledged that periodic oversupply continues to hurt farmers and processors.
To resolve this contradiction, the GEXIM CEO said the Bank is exploring innovative value-addition solutions, including liquid egg production, a product with strong demand on the international market.
According to him, this intervention would help absorb excess supply, stabilise prices, reduce waste and open new foreign exchange earning opportunities for local producers.
Jobs, food security and import substitution
Mr. Sylvester Mensah stressed that the socio-economic impact of dedicating the bulk of development finance to these value chains could be far-reaching.
In the poultry sector alone, he said improved access to timely and affordable financing across the entire value chain—from hatcheries and feed production to processing and cold storage—could create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, particularly for youth and women.
He added that scaling up local production would reduce Ghana’s heavy reliance on imported poultry, conserve foreign exchange and enhance national food security.
Rice value chain and policy support
Turning to the rice sector, the GEXIM CEO said the impact of coordinated financing and policy support is already becoming evident.
He cited the government’s directive for senior and junior high schools to procure locally produced rice, which has helped absorb recent gluts and provided immediate relief to farmers.
Mr. Syvester Mensah said the development reinforces the Bank’s position that financing agricultural production must go hand in hand with complementary policy interventions.
With sustained funding and guaranteed markets, he said domestic rice production could expand significantly, reduce imports and lower food inflation over the medium term.
Reviving the textile industry
Mr. Sylvester Mensah also identified the textiles value chain as a major opportunity for industrial revival.
He said targeted financing would enable local textile manufacturers to scale up production, modernise equipment and compete more effectively with imported fabrics.
This, he noted, could revitalise Ghana’s struggling textile industry, stimulate upstream cotton production and strengthen linkages between agriculture and manufacturing.
Lending discipline and risk management
Looking ahead, Mr. Sylvester Mensah said GEXIM’s lending would be strictly aligned with strategic priorities and production cycles, particularly in agriculture.
“You cannot grant agricultural loans when the farming season is over and expect them to perform,” he said, stressing that improved timing, utilisation and monitoring of loans would enhance repayment performance and strengthen the Bank’s financial sustainability.
Crackdown on defaults and governance reforms
As part of the reset agenda, Mr. Sylvester Mensah said the Bank has intensified efforts to strengthen governance, internal controls and risk management.
He disclosed that some partially disbursed loans have been restructured, while others are undergoing restructuring, alongside aggressive recovery of delayed facilities.
Several defaulting clients, he said, have already been referred to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Attorney-General’s Department, with more cases in the pipeline.
“The notion that Exim Bank money is free money belongs to the past. You cannot take a facility from Ghana Exim Bank and refuse to pay,” Mr Sylvester Mensah warned.
Managing high-risk development lending
Mr. Sylvester Mensah acknowledged that GEXIM’s non-performing loans are slightly higher than those of commercial banks but said this is expected, given the Bank’s mandate to finance high-risk, long-gestation sectors often avoided by commercial lenders.
He disclosed that the Bank’s total credit exposure stands at about GH¢1.5 billion, with non-performing loans accounting for just under 30%.
However, he expressed confidence that strengthened safeguards and risk mitigation strategies would significantly reduce the ratio over time.
Institutional reforms and five-year plan
Institutionally, Mr. Sylvester Mensah said GEXIM is implementing a five-year strategic plan that includes organisational restructuring, enhanced internal controls and the establishment of a Sustainability and Strategic Impact Department to ensure value for money and compliance with environmental, social and governance standards.
He added that cost-efficiency measures, including a contributory staff welfare scheme that shifts certain financing obligations to commercial banks, would free up more resources for productive enterprise support.
Long-term economic impact
In the broader economic context, Mr. Mensah said the refocused lending strategy would help Ghana reduce import bills for rice and poultry, strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises, boost exports and improve foreign exchange inflows, contributing to currency stability.
Over time, he said, these measures would create jobs, enhance food security, improve competitiveness and deliver lasting national economic impact.
Expressing optimism, Mr. Sylvester Mensah said disciplined execution, transparency and collaboration with the media and other stakeholders would transform Ghana Exim Bank into a more effective catalyst for inclusive growth.
“Come back in five years and look at what has been achieved,” he said. “We believe the results will speak for themselves.”
