{"id":112560,"date":"2026-01-25T03:13:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T03:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=112560"},"modified":"2026-01-25T03:13:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T03:13:00","slug":"bog-backs-134m-access-bank-ifc-deal-to-save-lbcs-from-liquidity-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=112560","title":{"rendered":"BoG backs $134m Access Bank-IFC deal to save LBCs from liquidity crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>2 Minute, 19 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Ghana\u2019s vital cocoa sector has received a massive financial lifeline following the signing of a $134 million risk-sharing agreement between Access Bank Ghana PLC and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).<\/p>\n

The deal, signed in Accra on Friday, January 23, 2026, is a direct response to the liquidity chokehold currently facing Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs). <\/p>\n

\"BoG<\/figure>\n

With COCOBOD experiencing delays in its traditional syndicated loan cycles, LBCs\u2014the primary off-takers who purchase beans from farmers\u2014have struggled to secure the working capital needed to sustain the 2025\/2026 crop season.<\/p>\n

A National Priority: The BoG\u2019s Endorsement<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking at the high-profile ceremony, the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Mrs. Matilda Asante-Asiedu, underscored the strategic weight of the intervention. She noted that the LBCs are not just commercial entities but the glue that holds the rural economy together.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis scheme is strategically designed to provide essential working capital to Licensed Buying Companies\u2014the backbone of Ghana\u2019s domestic cocoa purchasing system,\u201d she said. \u201cEnsuring their liquidity is not merely a commercial objective; it is a national economic priority.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"BoG<\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Deputy Governor further argued that a stable cocoa value chain is a prerequisite for a stable national currency.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe stability of LBCs safeguards rural livelihoods, strengthens export earnings, and supports exchange rate resilience,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

Macroeconomic \u201cRestoration\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The timing of the $134 million injection coincides with what the BoG describes as a historic recovery of the Ghanaian economy. <\/p>\n

After years of high volatility, Mrs. Asante-Asiedu pointed to the latest January 2026 inflation figures of 5.4%\u2014a fresh low since 2022\u2014as proof that \u201cprudent monetary policy\u201d is working.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThrough prudent monetary policy implementation and disciplined fiscal management, we have restored macroeconomic stability, strengthened confidence, supported GDP growth, and brought inflation back to single-digit levels,\u201d the Deputy Governor stated.<\/p>\n

How the Risk-Sharing Works<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Under this facility, the IFC will provide an unfunded guarantee to Access Bank, essentially absorbing up to 50% of the risk on loans extended to eligible LBCs. This de-risking mechanism allows Access Bank to lend more aggressively and at more competitive rates than would be possible in a standard commercial environment.<\/p>\n

The facility targets six major LBCs, including AgroECOM, Nyonkopa (Barry Callebaut), and FedCo, ensuring that the funding reaches the \u201cfarm gate\u201d where it is needed most to pay smallholder farmers promptly.<\/p>\n

Private Sector as the Engine<\/strong><\/p>\n

The partnership marks a significant shift away from the state-led financing model that has dominated the cocoa sector for decades. Mrs. Asante-Asiedu emphasized that this aligns with the government\u2019s broader \u201c24-Hour Economy\u201d and economic diversification goals.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis scheme is designed not only to harness opportunities along the cocoa value chain, but also to align closely with our national priorities,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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