{
  "id": 18326952,
  "title": "Ghana targets financial health with new inclusion strategy for 2027–2031",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/ghana-targets-financial-health-with-new-inclusion-strategy-for-2027",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T15:02:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-targets-financial-health-with-new-inclusion-strategy-for-2027-2031/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghana is refining its financial inclusion strategy for the 2027-2031 period, shifting focus from merely expanding access to financial services to improving citizens' financial well-being and resilience. The Ministry of Finance, alongside the United Nations Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, has established a National Technical Working Committee to steer the creation of the second National Financial Inclusion and Development Strategy. The strategy, themed \"Shaping Ghana’s Next Frontier in Financial Inclusion and Development,\" aims to enhance access to financial services, bolster financial resilience, and promote economic empowerment.\n\nDeputy Minister of Finance Hon. Thomas Ampem Nyarko emphasized that while Ghana has made significant strides in expanding financial access, the aim is to ensure these services translate into tangible benefits for citizens. According to the World Bank's Global Findex 2025 data, over 80% of Ghanaian adults now possess financial accounts; however, only 22% were deemed financially healthy in the 2021 Financial Inclusion and Demand-Side Survey.\n\nMr. Nyarko clarified that financial inclusion must extend beyond mere account ownership to provide the necessary tools for economic stability, asset building, and future planning. The new strategy will focus on responsible financial services, digital innovation, consumer protection, financial literacy and resilience, particularly for women, young people, farmers, informal sector workers, and small businesses. Plans include the formation of a Financial Inclusion Council to enhance coordination and accountability among stakeholders, alongside a financial health framework to gauge the well-being of households. The government aims to launch this strategy within the first half of 2027.\n\nHer Majesty Queen Máxima underscored that financial inclusion is merely a means to an end, arguing that access to financial accounts does not guarantee improved living conditions. She outlined four components of financial health: managing daily finances, building resilience against financial shocks, pursuing financial goals, and maintaining confidence in one's financial future. Households should have the means to manage income and expenses, save for anticipated costs, and safeguard against unexpected events like illness, drought, or fires. She highlighted the importance of emergency savings, affordable insurance, and accessible pension schemes for informal sector workers.\n\nQueen Máxima noted that Ghana's progress in financial inclusion has grown from about 30% in 2011 to around 80% currently. The country stands at a crucial juncture to ensure that the expanded access to financial services results in improved financial well-being. She advocated for a broader financial health measurement framework that reflects the experiences of various groups, including women, older individuals, and urban and rural residents. She urged financial institutions to assess their customers' financial health and design products tailored to their needs, citing savings products that automatically set aside a portion of income to encourage regular savings.\n\nQueen Máxima called for stronger collaboration among financial sector regulators to expand access to affordable insurance and pension products, as well as promote digital payments and data sharing to enhance financial services. She assured that her partners and she will accompany stakeholders throughout the development process to turn financial health into a reality.",
  "summary": "Ghana is taking steps to shift its financial inclusion agenda from expanding access to financial services to improving the financial health and well-being of citizens. The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, has inaugurated a National Technical […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}