Absa Bank Ghana Wins 5 Awards for Social Impact

Absa Bank Ghana has been lauded for its significant social impact, receiving five honours at the 2025 Sustainability & Social Investment (SSI) Awards.

The bank clinched awards for Partnership and Collaboration of the Year, Best Company in Youth Mentorship Project, and Best Company in Youth Development and Empowerment Project. Recognised for leadership were Managing Director Dr. Edward Nartey Botchway, named SSI Impact CEO of the Year, and Head of Citizenship, Priscilla Yeboah, who received the Mentorship Leadership Impact Award.

A cornerstone of Absa’s success, highlighted in the Partnership of the Year award, is its collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation through the Young Africa Works programme. This partnership has facilitated the disbursement of collateral-free and subsidised loans at an annual rate of 10% to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across Ghana, with a particular focus on ventures led by young people, women, and those in the agricultural sector.

Since 2020, over US$137 million in affordable financing has been distributed, benefiting more than 8,000 businesses, including 60 women-led enterprises. Furthermore, over 7,000 businesses have benefited from training, coaching, and mentorship, resulting in the creation of over 50,000 jobs for young Ghanaians.

Absa’s dedication to youth development was also prominently recognised. The ReadytoWork programme, designed to equip young people with essential skills for the job market, has supported 1.7 million young Ghanaians in 2025, focusing on employability, entrepreneurship, money management, and creative thinking.

Adding to this, the Money Matters financial literacy initiative has empowered 126,000 students nationwide with practical skills in budgeting, saving, and responsible financial behaviour this year.

“What matters most to us is not the number of programmes we run, but the progress people can make because of them,” Dr. Edward Nartey Botchway commented. “Our partnerships with the Mastercard Foundation, our investments in youth employability, and our commitment to financial inclusion are changing how many young Ghanaians access opportunity. These awards recognise that impact and remind us that when we back people with the right skills, capital, and confidence, their stories change and communities move forward.”

The SSI Awards, hosted annually by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana since 2010, aim to celebrate organisations and leaders who make substantial contributions to Ghana’s socio-economic progress.

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