Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export-Import Bank, Sylvester Mensah, has called for a careful balance between ambitious transformation and financial prudence as the institution charts its next phase of growth.
Speaking at the bank’s 10th anniversary, Mr. Mensah stressed the importance of safeguarding credibility while pursuing impactful interventions.
“We must be bold enough to support transformation, but rigorous enough to preserve the quality of our balance sheet and credibility,” he stated.
Since its establishment in 2016, GEXIM has recorded significant growth, expanding its loan portfolio from US$68 million to US$278 million by the end of 2025, while supporting 147 companies across the country. Annual import levy collections also rose from US$34 million to US$71 million within the same period.
Despite these gains, Mr. Mensah cautioned against measuring success solely by financial expansion.
“Progress cannot be measured by scale alone,” he noted. “It must be measured by relevance, additionality, impact, and the quality of outcomes we help to produce.”
Lessons from a Decade of Execution
Reflecting on ten years of operations, the GEXIM CEO outlined key lessons shaping the bank’s future strategy, beginning with the need for holistic business support.
“Finance by itself is not enough,” he said. “Businesses need a complete support system not just access to capital.”
He further emphasized that export competitiveness is built across the entire value chain, not just at the point of trade.
“Export competitiveness is built long before goods arrive at a port,” he explained. “It is rooted in productivity, efficiency, quality assurance, logistics, and management discipline.”
Mr. Mensah also highlighted the importance of institutional discipline in sustaining long-term impact, stressing that ambition must be matched with sound financial management.
Five Strategic Priorities for the Next Phase
Looking ahead, GEXIM has outlined five strategic priorities to guide its operations over the next decade, aimed at deepening its developmental impact.
The bank plans to move beyond traditional lending by offering more tailored financial instruments to businesses.
“Our objective is not merely to approve facilities, but to provide the right capital, in the right form, at the right time,” he stated.
Sectoral focus will also be sharpened, with increased attention on agro-processing, garments, pharmaceuticals, industrial oils, and key food value chains such as rice and poultry.
“We will concentrate on building complete production ecosystems rather than supporting isolated firms,” he added.
Support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is expected to scale up significantly, with a focus on preparing local firms for global competitiveness.
“Our goal is to move firms from potential to bankability, and from bankability to participation in global value chains,” Mr. Mensah said.
Additionally, the bank will intensify efforts to improve market access for Ghanaian businesses through trade missions, business linkages, and e-commerce readiness initiatives.
“GEXIM must not only provide capital but also connect businesses to markets,” he emphasized.
The renewed strategic direction signals a shift toward a more integrated, impact-driven approach as GEXIM positions itself to play a central role in Ghana’s export-led industrialisation agenda.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
