Stanbic Bank Ghana has officially joined the BRIDGE-in Agriculture programme, a new initiative designed to strengthen Ghana’s agricultural sector by supporting agri-focused small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The programme, formally titled Building Resilience and Investing in the Development and Growth of Entrepreneurs in Agriculture, is led by CrossBoundary Advisory and backed by the Mastercard Foundation. It aims to tackle long-standing barriers faced by agribusinesses, including high borrowing costs and limited access to financial services, while also promoting inclusion by prioritising support for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

Speaking at the launch event, Marian Amartey, Head of Business Enablement for Business and Commercial Banking at Stanbic Bank, said the bank’s involvement reflects its ongoing commitment to driving inclusive economic growth through strategic collaboration.

“This partnership aligns strongly with our commitment to the belief that Africa is our home, and we drive her growth. We see this not just as a mere collaboration but as a strategic business imperative. Our role in this partnership is threefold: facilitating access to affordable credit, offering advisory and technical support to help agribusinesses grow sustainably, and delivering capacity-building initiatives that empower youth and women,” she said.

“We have also used this opportunity to design more client-focused solutions by identifying existing gaps in our product offerings. The true potential of agribusiness can only be realised when access to finance is coupled with skills development and market linkage support. This initiative challenges us to move beyond traditional banking models and to be more solution-driven in addressing the needs of underserved communities,” she added.

The BRIDGE-in Agriculture programme will see commercial banks like Stanbic offering credit at single-digit interest rates, a substantial shift in a market where high interest rates have traditionally hindered growth. These more affordable loans are expected to help agri-SMEs expand and generate employment across the sector.

Samuel Okang-Boye, Head of Agribusiness at Stanbic Bank, also spoke at the launch, reaffirming the bank’s goal of transforming Ghana’s agricultural landscape through its involvement in the programme. He said the bank is placing a particular focus on young women aged 18 to 35, offering financial products and advisory support tailored to their needs.

“This initiative is not just about providing access to capital, it’s more about transforming agribusinesses. At Stanbic Bank, we are offering affordable loans with a maximum interest rate of 7%. But beyond finance, we’re equipping entrepreneurs with business development support, market access, and skills training to help them scale sustainably. That’s the real value of this partnership,” he said.

He encouraged young entrepreneurs, particularly women-led ventures, to see Stanbic Bank as a long-term partner in growth.

The BRIDGE-in Agriculture programme, developed by CrossBoundary Advisory and supported by the Mastercard Foundation, aims to position agriculture and related sectors as viable career paths for young Ghanaians. According to the organisers, working closely with commercial banks is essential to ensuring that interventions are both sustainable and capable of reaching scale.