Ghana Needs Financial Health Council — UN Special Advocate for Financial Health

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health, has urged the creation of a Financial Health Council in Ghana. This new council would bring together government and private sector stakeholders to enhance the financial well-being of the Ghanaian population. Speaking at the inauguration of the Working Committee on the National Financial Inclusion and Development Strategy in Accra, Queen Máxima emphasized that financial inclusion should not be viewed merely as an end goal, but as a tool for achieving financial health and broader socioeconomic progress.

While access to bank accounts, insurance, pensions, and other financial services is crucial, Queen Máxima stressed that they alone do not guarantee financial security or improved livelihoods. The Special Advocate outlined four key components of financial health: the capacity to manage day-to-day finances, the ability to endure financial shocks, the achievement of long-term financial goals, and maintaining confidence in one’s financial circumstances.