Fidelity Bank roots for horticultural transformation

By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi

Fidelity Bank Ghana is strengthening its role as a key driver of Ghana’s export-led growth, with a strong call for cutting-edge, sustainable solutions to unlock the full potential of the country’s horticultural sector.

Speaking at the Ghana Horticultural Expo 2025 in Accra, held under the theme ‘Innovation, Sustainability, and Digital Transformation for a Competitive Horticultural Sector’, Fidelity Bank’s Managing Director, Julian Opuni, stressed the sector’s significance in fostering inclusive growth, generating employment, strengthening food security, and boosting the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

 “It’s not just about what we extract from the ground, but what we grow, process, and export to the world,” Mr. Opuni said, while addressing a gathering of policymakers, development partners, agribusiness leaders, exporters, and government agencies.

He highlighted Fidelity Bank’s growing involvement in the sector, noting its strategic partnership with the Federation of Associations of Ghana Exporters (FAGE), which has already produced significant results.

“Since we launched our Export Club partnership with FAGE two years ago, we have disbursed over GHS45 million through our ‘BRIDGE-in-Agriculture’ program with Mastercard, and an additional GHS100 million through various credit facilities. This financial injection has directly contributed to strengthening our country’s export base and financial stability,” Mr. Opuni explained.

He described the Expo’s 2025 theme as “absolutely necessary” in today’s evolving global market, where compliance, climate change, and consumer transparency are no longer optional, but essential for competitiveness.

“These might seem like challenges, but they’re tremendous opportunities for Ghana to redefine its place in global value chains,” Mr. Opuni said.

The Fidelity Bank MD reiterated the bank’s role as a true partner to the industry, adding: “We want to be more than just a financier; we want to be an enabler — a collaborative institution that helps agribusinesses, exporters, and stakeholders realize their full potential.”

According to him, horticulture stands out as a powerful tool for employment, especially for youth and women, food security, and sustainable export income.

Acknowledging that access to finance is a major barrier for many players in the sector, Mr. Opuni said Fidelity Bank is taking deliberate steps to ease this bottleneck.

“That’s precisely why we’re hosting targeted sessions during this Expo to demystify our export finance products, explain the requirements, and help businesses become investment-ready,” Mr. Opuni noted.

He further revealed plans to collaborate with FAGE to host a practical masterclass for exporters, extending financial literacy, training, and readiness support.

Mr. Opuni stressed that financing alone is not enough.

“We must create strong ecosystems, this means supporting policy initiatives that enable cross-border trade, investing in cold chain infrastructure and logistics, and embracing sustainability as a real competitive advantage, not just a slogan.”

He called for a collective, forward-thinking approach by stakeholders to enable innovation, transformation, and the unlocking of immense potential within Ghana’s horticultural industry.

As the Expo progresses, Fidelity Bank continues to demonstrate its forward-looking role in strengthening the country’s export base.

“We are proud to stand with you, not just as a bank, but as a partner for progress. Together, we can grow something truly bigger, a vibrant, export-led economy that delivers real value for farmers, businesses, communities, and the nation as a whole,” Mr. Opuni added.