Ecobank Ghana has launched an enhanced version of its multi-award-winning gender-financing programme, Ellevate by Ecobank, to provide broader financial and non-financial solutions to women entrepreneurs across various business segments.
The initiative, originally designed to accelerate access to financing for women-owned, women-led, or women-focused small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has now been expanded to cater to businesses in Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and Corporate & Investment Banking.
Speaking at the launch, Mrs Abena Osei-Poku, Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, highlighted the programme’s impact since its introduction.
“Ghana’s businesswomen have already experienced the immense value of the pan-African Ellevate by Ecobank programme, which is dedicated to Africa’s businesswomen.
Since its launch in Ghana, the Ellevate programme has onboarded about 10,000 customers, disbursed loans totalling $84 million, and attracted customer deposits of $173 million.
The Ellevate desk has also organized capacity-building sessions for over 2,000 women entrepreneurs,” she stated.
She emphasized that the enhanced programme would further strengthen Ecobank’s position as the preferred bank for women entrepreneurs, offering them the best banking products, digital solutions, and access to new markets across Africa.
She pointed out that the enhanced “Ellevate” programme has been designed to help women entrepreneurs have unsecured loans of up to $50,000 to increase access to finance, competitive interest rates, and favourable collateral requirements.
Mrs Osei-Poku added that the upgraded “Ellevate” programme has reduced business history requirements, accommodating customers with a two-year track record instead of the industry-standard three years.
“Access to new markets across Africa through the MyTradeHub online matchmaking platform. Training, knowledge-sharing webinars, and leadership development initiatives.
Customised wealth management services and a one-stop shop for insurance needs. A loyalty programme offering exclusive discounts at select retail stores and recreation centres,” she mentioned as part of the new packages for women entrepreneurs.
Mrs Osei-Poku reiterated that Ecobank’s commitment goes beyond financial support with initiatives designed to drive financial inclusion, enhance business profitability, and expand market reach for women entrepreneurs.
Present at the launch were Mrs. Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Presidential Adviser & Special Aide to the President of Ghana; Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts (represented by Mrs. Mabel Coudjoe, Director of Research, Statistics, and Information Management); as well as leaders of women-owned businesses, representatives of women’s groups, Ecobank executives, and female customers of the bank.
With this enhanced version of “Ellevate”, Ecobank Ghana continues to champion financial empowerment for African women, helping them scale their businesses and thrive in a competitive market.
