What is DBG's Role?

DBG is a development finance institution or development bank. Unlike a universal bank, we do not lend directly to individuals or businesses.

We need a development bank to provide the long-term financing that universal banks are unable to offer to private sector businesses for their investment needs. We support businesses in industries that have great potential to create jobs and economic growth yet are currently under-served by the universal banks due to the perceived risk of doing business in these sectors.

We have identified agribusiness, manufacturing, ICT and other high value services as the catalytic sectors of the economy to focus on. In addition to providing long term funding, we will provide business support services to ensure the sustainability of businesses for the identified sectors.

What is DBG's Business Model

DBG pursues a wholesale banking business model. This means that we provide funding to eligible financial institutions to on-lend to Ghanaian businesses in targeted industry sectors. We have identified agribusiness, manufacturing, ICT and other high value services as the catalytic sectors of the economy to focus on.

This model was adopted following careful analysis of the challenges that previous development banks in Ghana had faced and after in-depth research to determine the most effective way to address issues facing Ghanaian SMEs. The wholesale banking model allows DBG to leverage on the networks and infrastructure of existing banks to provide business advisory services and training in addition to financing. The model allows more SMEs to be supported as DBG expands its partnerships with financial institutions countrywide.

What products are available to SMEs and PFIs?

DBG has a range of products and services in place.

  • Loans
  • Portfolio refinancing
  • Business advisory services
    • For PFIs
    • For SMEs

DBG provides a range of business support services through our partners. These partners have been selected based on their ability to provide support at scale.

DBG encourages businesses to access these services outlined below. Please note it may be necessary to become a member of these groups to benefit from the services.

At present you can contact the following institutions:

a) Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) Services:

  • Business information/Market Research
  • Policy forums & workshops
  • Technical and Management training
  • Monthly and Special Business Networking events
  • Trade Promotion
  • INDUTECH/Industrial Exhibitions
  • Industrial Partnerships: SPX-Ghana
  • Financing Packages

Contact:

Telephone Numbers: 0302 266 590 / 0302 251 266 / 0302 98 6730
Email: [email protected]

b) Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA)

Services:

  • MSME Development
  • Financial Support
  • Women Entrepreneurship Development
  • Start Ups and Innovations

Contact:

Telephone Number: 0500607238
Email: [email protected]

c) Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industries

Services:

  • Advocacy
  • B2B Networking
  • Trade Fairs & Missions
  • Certificate of Origin
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Capacity Building
  • GNCCI Credit Union
  • Policy Dialogues
  • Business & Trade info

Contact:

Telephone Number: 030 266 2860 / 054 411 4306
Email: [email protected]

 

There are also a number of products under development:

  • Partial credit guarantee fund
  • Equity fund

What issues do SMEs face? / How will DBG help SMEs?

DBG will help drive Ghana’s economic transformation.

SMEs form the backbone of Ghana’s economy. However, they lack access to long-term finance to grow their businesses. DBG addresses these gaps, by providing loans to participating financial institutions (PFIs), to on-lend to SMEs.
In Ghana, in 2018, only 33% of the volume of loans and advances had a maturity of more than three years, of which loans with a maturity of more than five years was only 15% compared to 23% in upper-middle-income countries. In comparison, the volume of loans with maturity of more than three years accounted for 35% in Nigeria.

At the same time, Ghana’s credit to the private sector was only 12% of GDP, significantly lagging its peers (Kenya 27%).

The ability of lenders to provide long-term loans requires access to long-term funding to avoid asset/liability maturity mismatches. However, funding of Ghanaian banks is dominated by deposits and borrowings with a maturity of less than one year—85% and 64%, respectively (82% combined).

In 2020, the projected financing gap for manufacturing and services (including agribusiness but excluding trade) was GHS 158.4 billion (US$28 billion), or 40% of the projected GDP. The gap for long-term finance (tenors of three years or more) is GHS 52.4 billion (US$9.3 billion).

What is DBG’s governance structure?

DBG is a limited liability company governed by the Development Finance Institution (DFI) Act 2020 (1032). The Act empowers Bank of Ghana (BoG), the Central Bank to exercise strong regulatory and supervisory oversight over our affairs.

As a result of the lessons learned from the challenges of past development banks in Ghana, emphasis has been placed on ensuring that DBG has a robust governance structure.

An independent board of directors and executive management team was constituted through a rigorous and competitive selection process which was conducted with the support of PWC. Our international partners World Bank and KfW also hold observer seats on the Board.

What is DBG’s executive management structure?

DBG has a 5-member executive management team. The team is led by Mr Kwamena Duker, CEO. The Deputy CEO, Mr Michael Mensah-Baah is also Head of Wholesale Finance. The remaining executives each head functional roles and are Dr Prince Adjei, Vice-President Risk; Dr Clement Opuni-Frimpong, Vice-President Economics; and Mr El- Farouk Umar, Vice-President Technology.

The team are all seasoned executives with local and international experience. They are highly qualified experts, who have gone through a rigorous, open, and competitive selection process to ensure that they are closely aligned with DBG’s vision of building a world-class development finance institution in Ghana.

They each have been selected based on their respective areas of expertise, integrity, and profound commitment to achieving excellence. Each member brings a wealth of experience, crucial to achieve DBG’s mission and driving Ghana socio-economic growth.

How is DBG funded and how much does it currently have under management?

To date, our capital and funding have come from the Government of Ghana, World Bank, European Investment Bank (EIB), African Development Bank (AfDB) and KfW.

DBG has Ghc1.2 billion in capital. We have received funds in excess of US$700 million from our shareholder and partners to on lend to PFIs and provide capacity building.

How can financial institutions access loans from DBG?

To access wholesale loans, financial institutions must meet our eligibility criteria and be verified in due diligence process. Please contact [email protected] for further information.

How can SMEs access DBG loans from participating financial institutions?

To access loans / funds you must contact our partner banks or participating financial institutions.

Please note we do not loan directly to businesses or individuals.

At present you can contact the following institutions to discuss accessing loans:

1. CalBank
If you have an existing account with CalBank please contact your local branch or speak to you bank manager.
Or use:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +233 302 680 079 OR +233 800 500 500

2. CBG
If you have an existing account with CBG please contact your local branch or speak to you bank manager.
Or use:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0302216000

3. Fidelity Bank
If you have an existing account with Fidelity please contact your local branch or speak to you bank manager.
Or use:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0800 00 3355 (Ghana only)
+233 302819292 (all countries)

4. GCB
If you have an existing account with GCB please contact your local branch or speak to you bank manager.
Or use:
Email:
Kojo Larbi, [email protected], 0596996119
Mutala Abu-Andani, [email protected], 0596916014

What is DBG’s Approach to ESG and Sustainability?

DBG’s ability to manage ESG matters is fundamental to our long-term outcomes and impact. We provide support to our PFIs and SMEs to thrive and be resilient. We want to ensure that international best practices are followed, therefore we have signed up to the UN Global Compact, for example.

Our ESG and Sustainability framework is integrated into our culture, business operations, processes, systems and governance process through the Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS).

The ESMS guides the wholesale financing and investment decision-making process in assessing, managing and controlling the associated risk and opportunities associated with the transaction.

It is envisaged that each of the participating financial institutions (PFI’s) and their eligible SMEs undergo detailed environmental and social assessment and monitoring to ensure compliance with relevant environmental and social systems in Ghana and the Bank’s ESG management framework.

What is DBG’s Environmental and Social Policy?

We incorporate ESG in our overall vision and mission statement and as an integral component of the bank’s policies.

Our Environmental and Social (E&S) policy is aligned with

  1. The Ghana Sustainable Banking Principles and Sector Guidance Notes (2019)
  2. The World Bank Environmental and Social Standards
  3. The European Investment Bank (EIB) E&S Standards
  4. KfW Sustainability Guidelines and
  5. The AfDB Integrated Safeguards System (ISS)

This sets the tone from the top and embeds our approach into our stakeholders’ way of doing things in a values-driven and ethical way.

This policy enables DBG to align itself with best international practices and local legislation governing environmental and social issues and forms the basis of DBG’s Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS). In the policy, DBG is committed to:

  1. Integration of Environmental and Social Sustainability Measures;
  2. Screening Lending and Investment Activities against the ExclusionList;
  3. Systematic Assessment of Risks and Impact Monitoring andEvaluation;
  4. Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Lensing;
  5. Labour and Working conditions;
  6. Grievance and Redress Mechanism; and
  7. Public Disclosure and Reporting