Women’s Development Bank is dead on arrival, GHS51.3m can’t establish a bank in Ghana – Ahiagbah

• Posted on March 13, 2025
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has said that the Women’s Development Bank is dead on arrival.

He argues that the GHS 51.3 million allocated for the creation of the bank is woefully inadequate to establish a bank in Ghana.

The bank, which was a key campaign promise of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2024 general elections is targeted to support women-owned businesses by providing financial assistance and fostering economic empowerment.

In a post on his X page, Ahiagbah said “Women’s Development Bank is dead on arrival because the allocated GHS 51.3 million can not establish a bank in Ghana. Women are not a priority for the John Mahama Administration.. Unfulfilled Promise.”

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced while presenting the 2025 Budget Statement in Parliament on Tuesday, March 11 that the government has earmarked GH¢51.3 million for the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank.

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said: “Mr. Speaker, we have also allocated GH¢51.3 million as seed fund for the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank.”

In addition to the allocation for the Women’s Development Bank, the Finance Minister announced significant funding for other key initiatives aimed at youth empowerment and skills development.

“Mr. Speaker, we have also allocated GH¢300 million to the National Apprenticeship Programme. We have also allocated GH¢100 million to the ‘Adwumawura’ Programme and