Advans Ghana Expands Women’s Financial Inclusion with GHS 20 Million Mmaa Mpuntuo Fund

Advans Ghana has significantly scaled its operations over the past five years, more than doubling its client base to serve approximately 160,000 individuals, the majority of whom are women. To consolidate this growth and address persistent gender disparities in the financial sector, the institution has launched the Mmaa Mpuntuo initiative. This GHS 20 million fund, supported by Development Bank Ghana (DBG), is specifically designed to provide affordable financing, mentorship, and business development training to female entrepreneurs. The initiative follows a strong performance in 2025, during which Advans Ghana disbursed GHS 400 million to women-owned enterprises.

The strategic focus on women is a direct response to structural barriers that have historically limited their access to capital. Managing Director Guillaume Valence has noted that traditional lending requirements—such as high collateral demands, the need for spousal consent, and extensive documentation—often sideline female borrowers. Data indicates a sharp imbalance in the credit market; despite women accounting for 82.8% of secured credit transactions, they received only GHS 3.1 billion in credit compared to GHS 19.4 billion granted to men. The Mmaa Mpuntuo program seeks to bridge this gap by streamlining access to capital and enhancing the growth potential of women-led businesses.

Beyond traditional credit, Advans Ghana is implementing a holistic support model that includes digital innovation and risk management. The institution has introduced embedded microinsurance products to protect small-scale traders, a service that recently provided critical relief to market vendors affected by a major fire in Accra. Additionally, the organization is rolling out a climate roadmap to address environmental concerns while continuing to prioritize financial literacy. By combining targeted funding with technical support, Advans Ghana aims to foster a more equitable financial ecosystem that empowers women to drive national economic growth.