By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, April 25, GNA – Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) has launched a digital estate‑planning solution, LegacyCare Plus, to broaden access to secure, private and professionally guided will‑writing services in Ghana.
The product was unveiled at a media launch in Accra as part of UMB’s ongoing transformation agenda aimed at leveraging digital banking to address real socio‑economic challenges.
Speaking at the launch, Ms. Edem Knight-Tay, Head of Corporate Communications of the bank, said LegacyCare Plus was more than a financial product.
She said the launch was a reflection of UMB’s commitment to long‑term customer wellbeing and generational wealth protection.
“Estate planning is not about predicting death; it is about care, responsibility and ensuring that what people have worked hard for continues to benefit the people they love.”
She said the introduction of the platform was informed by worrying statistics on intestate succession in Ghana.
According to a November 2023 report referenced at the event, about 50 per cent of Ghanaian adults die without a will, often leaving families in distress and estates locked in prolonged disputes.
Ms. Knight-Tay noted that the bank observed the cultural discomfort, fear, limited access to legal guidance and the perception that estate planning is for the wealthy continue to discourage many Ghanaians from writing wills.
“When individuals pass on without clear instructions, families are left confused, opportunities for wealth preservation are lost, and in many cases, poverty is passed on from one generation to another,” the bank said.
LegacyCare Plus is accessible through the UMB SpeedApp and the bank’s official website under its wealth management section.
Users can digitally submit personal details, asset information, beneficiary data and executor preferences, after which UMB’s Registrar Services and Wealth Management teams provide professional guidance to complete the will‑writing process.
The solution also supports trust creation, particularly for beneficiaries below 18 years, and places emphasis on security, privacy and regulatory compliance.
Ms.Niine Inkumah Sarpong, Head of Registrars and Wealth Management at the Bank, said that the platform combines digital convenience with personalised human support, ensuring clarity, confidence and peace of mind for customers.
Ms. Inkumah Sarpong
encouraged the public not to postpone estate planning, stressing that the best time to plan was while individuals were alive and able to make clear decisions.
“Estate planning is real, not theoretical. The right time is now to plan your estate, protect your family and secure peace of mind,” she said.
GNA
25 April 2026
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong