Access Bank Ghana has named Pearl Nkrumah as its new Managing Director, effective October 1, 2025. She is the first woman to head the bank since it opened in Ghana 16 years ago.
Her appointment has been cleared by the Board of Directors and the Bank of Ghana. She succeeds Olumide Olatunji, who has led the bank since 2018. Olatunji is now expected to take up a senior executive role with Access Bank in Nigeria.
Nkrumah brings more than 25 years of banking experience. She has worked in retail and digital banking, commercial banking, risk management, and digital transformation. Until now, she was Executive Director for Retail and Digital Banking at Access Bank Ghana, where she also oversaw retail operations across 15 Access Africa subsidiaries outside Nigeria.
The move is a milestone for Access Bank Ghana’s leadership. It comes at a time when women are still underrepresented in executive banking roles in West Africa. Her rise also reflects the bank’s effort to deepen diversity and succession planning.
Commenting on the appointment, Ama Bawuah, Chair of the Board of Directors at Access Bank Ghana, said:
Click to view“Having worked alongside Pearl on the local board over the past three years, her appointment is a testament to Access Bank’s commitment to diversity and her extensive track record and leadership capabilities.”
See also: What Clara Arthur’s return to GhIPSS as CEO means for Ghana’s digital payments future
Nkrumah also shared her vision:
“It is a great privilege to lead Access Bank Ghana at such a pivotal time. Together with the Board, management, and our dedicated employees, we will deliver superior value to our customers, shareholders, and the communities.”
Nkrumah started her career at Standard Chartered Bank in 1998 and later joined Stanbic Bank, where she held senior roles in commercial and business banking. She joined Access Bank in 2022. She also serves as Chairperson of the Council of the Ghana Stock Exchange, representing listed companies.
Access Bank Ghana has been expanding its presence, with 56 branches across the country as of late 2024. Its parent, Access Bank Holdings, operates in 23 countries, including the UK, France, and the UAE, and is one of Africa’s largest banking groups.
The bank has earned recent recognition for sustainability and digital innovation, including Best Bank in Ghana (Euromoney 2023 & 2025) and Best Bank ESG (Euromoney 2024). Under Olatunji, it also grew investor confidence through partnerships with International Finance Corporation (IFC), MasterCard, and Norfund.
Outgoing MD Olumide Olatunji said in his farewell:
“It has been a privilege to serve as Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana over the past seven years. I am delighted to hand over to Pearl Nkrumah, whose leadership and expertise are well recognised in the industry.”
Nkrumah’s challenge will be to sustain the bank’s digital push and expand financial inclusion in Ghana’s competitive market, while building on the achievements of her predecessor.
