Also known as: Absa Group CEO · South African bank Absa
Absa Group — South African financial services organization with operations in Ghana, focused on sustainable financial inclusion and regional growth.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Joy Online
… The seasonally adjusted PMI sponsored by South African bank Absa fell to 47.3 points from 50.8 in May. …
South African manufacturing sentiment worsens in June, Absa PMI showsJoy Online
… Among the institutions represented were Standard Chartered Bank, ICBC Standard Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, British International Investment, ABSA Group, the Bank of Ghana, and senior officials from the UK government’s Department for Business and Trade. …
Ghana makes strong investment pitch in London as Finance Minister, BoG Governor court global investorsBusiness & Financial Times
… The event brought together senior representatives from government, central banking and international finance, including officials from Standard Chartered Bank, ICBC Standard Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, British International Investment, Unity Link, Frontera Capital, GHHIPPS, Absa an …
Finance Minister, Governor present powerful, unified case for Ghana to global financiers and investorsBusiness & Financial Times
… As part of the wider Absa Group, Absa Bank Ghana has strengthened its focus on governance, stakeholder accountability and sustainable finance. …
Have we mistaken CSR for Sustainability?: Why businesses need to rethink ESGJoy Online
… Addressing lending risks, panel representatives from Absa and Maroon Capital discussed the necessity of digital lending to offset last-mile delivery costs, but warned of a culture of default that led to a bank taking a 32 million GHS impairment. …
Building Economic Resilience: How FILMA is creating dignified livelihoods in rural GhanaDaily Guide
… Addressing lending risks, panel representatives from Absa and Maroon Capital discussed the necessity of digital lending to offset last-mile delivery costs, but warned of a culture of default that led to a bank taking a 32 million GHS impairment. …
Building Economic Resilience: How FILMA is Creating Dignified Livelihoods in Rural Ghana In the landscape of rural development, the transition from subsistence to sustainability is often cited as a goal; however, it is rarely measured with the precision of a fintech operation. Reflecting on the insights shared during the inaugural Financial Inclusion for Last Mile Actors (FILMA) Learning Event at the Accra Marriott Hotel, which hosted over 230 stakeholders, it is clear that the “last mile” is no longer the end of the road, but rather the starting point for systemic economic transformation. A scene during one of the community engagements Program Context: A Multi-Partner Vision For Rural Ghana Implemented by Temple Investments in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, FILMA is a four-year, multi-partner initiative (2024–2028) designed to empower 100,000 young Ghanaians. The program specifically targets young women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) by providing access to affordable credit, inclusive financial services, and market opportunities. Central to this mission is the Last Mile Actor (LMA), defined as the essential yet often overlooked players at the end of the agricultural value chain. This demographic primarily comprises young women, youth, and PWDs serving as smallholder farmers, processors, and traders. These actors have historically been excluded from formal financial systems due to systemic barriers: a lack of traditional collateral, limited financial footprints, and the high perceived risk of rural enterprises. The program operates with a precise mandate: ensuring that 70% of LMAs are women and 5% are persons with disabilities, focusing its efforts across 18 districts in the Volta, Oti, Bono East, and Northern Regions. To achieve this scale, the program is driven by a strategic consortium led by Temple Investments, providing strategic leadership and managing the Catalytic Facility for Inclusive Finance (CFIF). This ecosystem is fortified by the specialized expertise of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), AV Ventures, SEND Ghana, and Enterprise Life, which provides tailored insurance solutions to de-risk the financial landscape for rural actors. More than just an intervention, FILMA serves as a critical test case for a high-impact sustainability model. It marks a definitive departure from traditional grant-based modules, aiming instead to transform agricultural and agri-adjacent value chains, including production and the introduction of emerging technology, into self-sustaining hubs of economic resilience. Solid Evidence: Operational Milestones and Alternative Livelihoods Two years into the four-year program, FILMA’s data reflects deep structural changes. The program has enrolled 77,868 LMAs; representing 78% of the total life-of-project target, and successfully transitioned 44,476 youth into dignified and fulfilling work, with young women making up 90% (40,028) of this total. Additionally, 2,151 persons with disabilities are actively participating in the program’s pathways. The average monthly income of an LMA has more than doubled, rising from a baseline of GH¢1,334 to GH¢2,793, while the portion of LMAs able to self-secure a financial product has jumped from 3% to 38%. Crucially, the program is de-risking rural life by introducing microinsurance and promoting diversified, non-traditional income streams to hedge against agricultural volatility. To date, this includes specialized training and equipment distribution for 1,099 individuals in beekeeping, 500 in mushroom production, and 2,661 in dry-season vegetable production. Voices from the Last Mile: The LMA Youth Panel A powerful session at the forum brought five last-mile actors to the stage to share their real-world transformations. Sakina, a young participant, described how saving was once a distant dream, as she struggled to manage the small allowances provided by her parents. Following the financial literacy and saving guides provided by the program, she began consistently saving 30% of her funds, turning a dream into an active, empowering daily practice. Gifty, a university graduate, shared how she turned to mushroom farming in the Oti Region due to the scarcity of formal employment. Although she managed to build a basic farming structure using her national service allowance, she lacked the capital to purchase compost and spawn. Initially dismissing Voluntary Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) as groups meant only for older community members, Gifty joined the program, mobilized other young people, and formed a VSLA. The collective savings from this group provided the critical capital needed to purchase compost and launch her commercial operations, highlighting how local, structured savings can bypass traditional borrowing barriers. Redefining the Ecosystem: Systemic Debates and Institutional Commitments The final stakeholder panel confronted the harsh economic realities facing rural and local producers. Caleb Edwards, Managing Director of WAMI AGRO, offered a sobering view on the impact of import liberalization, pointing out that local producers struggle to compete with importers backed by cheaper foreign capital, subsidies, and tax exemptions. He shared that local companies have faced six-figure impairments due to these policies, forcing a local rice farm to let go of 18 workers, and emphasized that credit access will fail without corresponding market protection and hedging strategies. Addressing lending risks, panel representatives from Absa and Maroon Capital discussed the necessity of digital lending to offset last-mile delivery costs, but warned of a culture of default that led to a bank taking a 32 million GHS impairment. They called for a unified shift in borrower mindset toward “contractual faithfulness” and robust data literacy. These provocations led to critical institutional commitments. The Central Bank representative pledged to move beyond simple gender‑balance metrics to develop and launch an active, value-chain-wide inclusive policy specifically for women by mid-2027. The Ministry of Finance committed to crafting highly actionable, solution-oriented policies within the upcoming National Financial Inclusion and Development Strategy (NFIDS). Concurrently, disability advocates and WAMI Agro announced a collaborative framework with international disability facilitators to train financial institutions on accessible services, ensuring local PWD structures are intentionally integrated into future outreach. The Women Behind the Work: From Survival to Destiny “For us at Temple, these women are not a video. They are the reason we are here. They are not characters in a story; they are the story,” noted Cecilia Hesse, Managing Director of Temple Investments, during her opening address. Her words underscored a fundamental shift in how development is measured: moving away from distant spreadsheets toward the lived realities of the women who are the bedrock of the nation. She also shared a proverb that captures the resilience of the program’s target demographic: “Even if the housefly has nothing, it rubs its hands together in anticipation.” This spirit of preparation and work is what FILMA seeks to harness. By recognizing the brilliance and drive of these women, the program ensures they no longer have to struggle just to survive, but are instead empowered to build a lasting destiny for their families and communities. A FILMA beneficiaryDaily Guide
President John Mahama and Kenny Fihla Absa Group Chief Executive Officer, Kenny Fihla, has reaffirmed the bank’s long-term commitment to Ghana following a strategic visit aimed at strengthening relationships and advancing the Group’s growth agenda across Africa. …
Absa CEO Reaffirms Commitment To Ghana MarketThe Ghanaian Times
Absa Group Chief Executive Officer, Kenny Fihla, has concluded a visit to Ghana as part of an engagement tour across Africa, designed to reaffirm Absa Group’s commitment to regional growth, sustainable financial inclusion, and a strong customer-centric approach. …
Absa Group CEO reaffirms Ghana’s strategic importanceJoy Online
Absa Group CEO, Kenny Fihla, has concluded a visit to Ghana as part of an engagement tour across Africa. …
Absa Group CEO reaffirms Ghana’s strategic importance during working visitBusiness & Financial Times
Absa Group Chief Executive Officer, Kenny Fihla, has concluded a visit to Ghana as part of an engagement tour across Africa, designed to reaffirm Absa Group’s commitment to regional growth, sustainable financial inclusion, and a strong customer-centric approach. …
Absa Group CEO reaffirms nation’s strategic importance during working visitSouth African manufacturing sentiment worsened in June as weaker demand reduced new orders, though lower oil prices boosted confidence about future conditions, according to Absa's purchasing managers' index survey, which fell to 47.3 points from 50.8 in May.
2 July 2026 · Joy Online →
South African manufacturing sentiment worsened in June as weaker demand reduced new orders, though lower oil prices boosted confidence about future conditions, according to Absa's purchasing managers' index survey, which fell to 47.3 points from 50.8 in May.
2 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's Finance Minister and Bank of Ghana Governor presented the government's economic reform programme—including debt restructuring, fiscal discipline, and financial sector strengthening—to international investors and financiers at a breakfast meeting in London.
8 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's Finance Minister and Bank of Ghana Governor presented the country's economic reforms and investment prospects to international financiers and investors at a high-level breakfast meeting in London, highlighting debt restructuring, fiscal consolidation and monetary policy measures aimed at macroeconomic stabilisation.
8 June 2026 · Business & Financial Times →
Many Ghanaian organisations treat Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles as corporate donations and community outreach, but ESG is a framework that shapes business governance, risk management, and investor decisions. Sustainability has shifted from an act of goodwill to a matter of resilience, with stakeholders now scrutinising how companies manage environmental impact, treat employees, and ensure transparency.
4 June 2026 · Business & Financial Times →
Implemented by Temple Investments and the Mastercard Foundation, FILMA is a four-year initiative (2024–2028) providing young women, youth, and persons with disabilities access to affordable credit, inclusive financial services, and market opportunities in rural Ghana.
4 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Temple Investments' four-year FILMA initiative (2024–2028) has enrolled 77,868 last-mile actors—primarily young women, youth, and persons with disabilities—across 18 districts, more than doubling average monthly income from GH¢1,334 to GH¢2,793 while transitioning 44,476 youth into dignified work and raising financial product self-uptake from 3% to 38%.
4 June 2026 · Daily Guide →
Absa Group Chief Executive Officer Kenny Fihla visited Ghana to reaffirm the bank's long-term commitment to the market, describing it as having "extraordinary potential" and emphasising Absa's focus on deepening financial inclusion, driving sustainable growth, and enhancing customer experience. Mr. Fihla engaged stakeholders including clients, regulators, and staff to align the Group's strategy with local economic priorities and stressed the bank's ambition to be "relentlessly customer-obsessed" and build meaningful partnerships.
27 April 2026 · Daily Guide →
Absa Group Chief Executive Officer Kenny Fihla concluded a Ghana visit as part of an African engagement tour to reaffirm the group's commitment to regional growth, sustainable financial inclusion, and customer focus. The visit included meetings with stakeholders and explored opportunities in fintech, trade finance, and youth empowerment to support Ghana's economic transformation.
27 April 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Absa Group CEO Kenny Fihla concluded a working visit to Ghana as part of an Africa-wide engagement tour to reaffirm the bank's commitment to regional growth, sustainable financial inclusion, and customer-centric banking. During the visit, Fihla met stakeholders and emphasised Absa's ambition to deepen its presence in Ghana through digital innovation, small business support, and sustainable finance initiatives.
27 April 2026 · Joy Online →
Absa Group Chief Executive Officer Kenny Fihla concluded a visit to Ghana as part of an engagement tour across Africa to reaffirm the group's commitment to regional growth, sustainable financial inclusion, and customer-centric operations. During the visit, Fihla met with stakeholders and outlined Absa's ambition to provide customer-focused financial services and support Ghana's economic transformation through fintech, trade finance, and youth empowerment.
27 April 2026 · Business & Financial Times →