Pearl Nkrumah, Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, has called for stronger financial systems and seamless payment structures to support women-led trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Accordingly, she emphasised that inclusive trade will only thrive if cross-border transactions are made easier and more efficient.
She made the call while contributing to the panel session themed “From Boardrooms to Borders: Women Driving the AfCFTA Agenda” at the 2026 Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) on Wednesday, 4th February, 2026 at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
Madam Nkrumah noted that unlocking capital—both within and outside Africa—depends largely on whether countries create enabling environments that allow investments and financing to flow smoothly into local economies.
She explained that while Ghana and other African states are already pursuing blended financing arrangements and strategic partnerships with external partners, the real priority must be ensuring that financing directly supports productive trade activities, especially for women entrepreneurs operating across borders.
“For women trading among ourselves, the key question is how do we enable platforms that make it smooth and fluid for a woman in Ghana to ship products to other countries and receive payment back seamlessly,” she said.
Madam Nkrumah highlighted that women-owned businesses require not only access to capital but also functional trade ecosystems—marketplaces, procurement networks, and payment channels—that allow them to move from small enterprises into larger suppliers and regional trade partners.
She pointed out that partnerships created through trade can also become pathways for foreign investment, as businesses abroad collaborate with and fund enterprises within Africa.
As a financial institution, she said Access Bank is working with central banks and other stakeholders to build the governance frameworks, financial products, and payment solutions needed to support cross-border commerce.
Madam Nkrumah referenced ongoing efforts such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), designed to facilitate payments among African countries. However, she observed that significant challenges remain, particularly around settlement mechanisms.
“For me, the issue is that after everything is done, we still need to settle in US dollars. That is where the problem is,” she noted.
She argued that Africa’s long-term trade success requires moving beyond dependence on foreign currencies and accelerating discussions toward a single African currency or stronger regional currency frameworks that can support direct settlement between African currencies.
Using Access Bank’s operations across 14 African countries as an example, she explained that customers can already send money across borders in local currencies, but banks still rely on sourcing US dollars behind the scenes to complete settlements.
While acknowledging that progress is being made, Madam Nkrumah called for greater political will and continental commitment to move from policy dialogue to implementation.
“With continued conversations like this, and the push from talk to execution, we can make the vision of a truly fluid African trade and payment system a reality,” she said.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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