Ghana International Bank (GHIB) is seeking to attract more capital from Asia, betting that the region will become an increasingly important source of financing for Africa’s infrastructure, trade and agricultural sectors.
- GHIB aims to tap into Asian capital, seeing Asia as a future cornerstone for financing Africa's infrastructure, trade, and agriculture.
- The bank's CEO highlights China and Asia’s deep savings as crucial for addressing Africa’s development financing needs.
- GHIB, majority-owned by the Bank of Ghana, strategically connects African markets to global finance through its London base.
- Amid new domestic financing moves like COCOBOD's $288 million short-term debt, GHIB emphasizes the complementary role of international investors.
Chief Executive Officer Ian Greenstreet said Asian investors could help address some of the continent’s financing needs, pointing to the region’s deep institutional savings that could be channelled into infrastructure projects. He described China as an “extremely important” market.
The London-based bank, majority-owned by the Bank of Ghana, connects African markets to the international financial system through corporate and institutional banking, trade finance and treasury services. The central bank held a 65.45% equity stake in the lender as of December 2024.
Looking beyond traditional lenders
GHIB’s strategy comes as African countries explore alternative ways to finance economic activity and reduce their reliance on international borrowing arrangements.
Ghana’s cocoa regulator, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), recently raised $288 million through domestic short-term debt to finance cocoa purchases from farmers. The issuance marked a shift from its decades-old reliance on syndicated loans arranged by international banks.
The debt sale, issued at an interest rate of 11% and due to mature in June 2027, was the first tranche of a planned 16.3 billion-cedi domestic financing programme. COCOBOD has faced financing difficulties since its traditional syndicated loan arrangement collapsed in the 2023/24 season.
Greenstreet told Reuters that international capital still had a role to play, as it was highly complementary to some of Africa’s financing needs.
Expanding agricultural financing
GHIB also plans to increase financing for agricultural commodities beyond cocoa, including cotton, as it seeks to support more of Africa’s agricultural value chains.
The bank’s ambitions align with broader efforts to strengthen cross-border trade and improve businesses’ access to international markets. In June 2026, GHIB signed a trade finance agreement with the African Development Bank, aimed at expanding support for importers, exporters and financial institutions involved in cross-border commerce.
By pursuing Asian investors while expanding its trade finance activities, GHIB hopes to connect more international capital with African businesses and development opportunities.