Accra, March 12, GNA – Development Bank Ghana (DBG) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women-led businesses with the necessary financial backing and skills development to enhance their growth and sustainability.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Development Bank Ghana, Michael Mensah-Baah, stressed the bank’s strategic focus on fostering female entrepreneurship and supporting them with the necessary tools to succeed in the competitive business environment.
He was speaking to the media on the sidelines of an engagement with female students of the Design and Technology Institute (DTI) as part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day 2025,
“We believe that to be able to change the discourse in the country, we need to ensure that part of our efforts in supporting private sector is focused on how we are able to support women-led businesses. Women-led businesses have specific challenges that if you use the traditional way of supporting them, would not necessarily yield a benefit. One of them is the financial literacy part of it.”
“So coming into DTI, where it’s an institution that is focused on developing women in certain skill sets that traditionally are male-dominated, is actually in line with what we believe in,” he added.
Mr Mensah-Baah commended Madam Swaniker for the fantastic institution that is trying to demystify the mindset that vocational and technical skills is just meant for the male person.
“But also, she’s really made it open to females who are actually inclined in that way to be able to come into this institution and to let their skills also be developed. So, to date, almost 50% of the students here are females. This is something that we want to be associated with such an institution.”
He said DBG would be part of the journey of the women in the institute who would one day need funding or technical assistance for their businesses.
“A woman today who is in this institute will probably be a woman leading a micro-institution, will be there with them, move on to be a small institution, a medium-sized institution, and hopefully become a local corporate and throughout this journey, DBG will be part of it,” he added.
Madam Constance Elizabeth Swaniker, the Founder and President of the Design and Technology Institute, thanked management of the Development Bank Ghana for the visit and positive signal and impact it would have on the students.
She said DTI is very passionate about creating opportunities for all, but the learners must earn everything that they are given.
“And for somebody who has worked extensively in a very more dominated space, we talk about accelerating action.
But there are barriers that prevented women from also accessing opportunities. So, that’s one thing that you also have to be very mindful of as you discuss topics that seek to accelerate action when it comes to gender equality.”
GNA
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