Celebrating 5 Years of Empowering Ghana’s Agriculture through Innovative Finance and Technical Support

Over the past five years, we’ve empowered Ghana’s agricultural sector —supporting 67,000 farmers , securing GHC1.2 billion in financing, and creating nearly 3,000 jobs . As we celebrate this milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to driving innovation and sustainable growth in agribusiness. Join us in commemorating five years of progress and partnership as GIRSAL continues shaping the future of agriculture in Ghana

What Our Partners Are Saying: GIRSAL’s Transformative Impact on Agribusiness Finance

GIRSAL’s partnership has been transformative for Fidelity Bank’s agricultural lending over the past five years. Their comprehensive support, including technical expertise in credit evaluation, practical field-based training, risk-sharing guarantees, and collaborative project monitoring, has been crucial to our success in the agricultural sector. GIRSAL’s industry knowledge and guidance have enabled us to make informed lending decisions, resulting in improved portfolio growth and quality

Mr. Alex Agyei Amponsah

Director, Commercial and SME Banking, Fidelity Bank

GIRSAL’s guarantee and technical assistance have given us and our investors the confidence to engage more deeply with the agricultural sector. Their partnership has helped us build a rich, diverse portfolio of viable agribusinesses, improved our bottom line, and opened doors to international opportunities. GIRSAL’s support has truly illuminated the path for us in the agribusiness space, allowing us to make informed decisions and create a lasting impact in Ghana’s agricultural sector. GIRSAL has helped transform Oya Capital’s approach to agribusiness financing.

Mrs. Rita O. Ackom

Executive Director, Corporate Finance, Oya Capital

GIRSAL has fundamentally transformed our approach to agribusiness financing. The guaranteed scheme and comprehensive technical assistance have instilled confidence in our lending decisions, enabling us to view agriculture as a holistic value chain rather than just farming. The agriculture and agribusiness lending training to our staff has enhanced our understanding and execution of agricultural projects. Their involvement in monitoring these businesses has significantly improved our portfolio performance

Mr. Gerald Quartey

Director for Credit Risk, Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG)

Our partnership with GIRSAL over the years has supported Absa Bank’s agribusiness portfolio, we have seen exponential growth, moving from a few million to hundreds of millions in agribusiness financing. The pre-assessment visits and post-disbursement monitoring facilitated by GIRSAL have significantly improved our risk management, hence boosting our asset book and income from agribusinesses. GIRSAL’s comprehensive training program has also been instrumental in developing our staff’s expertise, from operational levels to top leadership and board members, enhancing our ability to structure tailored transactions for agribusinesses, this has positioned us to make a lasting impact on Ghana’s agricultural sector, one success story at a time.

Mr. William Nettey

Head of Agribusiness, Absa Bank

GIRSAL has revolutionized our approach to agricultural financing. Their intervention has mitigated risks, expanded our horizons, and built our capacity in the agribusiness sector. Through comprehensive training, technical assistance, and their guarantee scheme, we’ve been able to confidently finance larger projects, including successful ventures like NARUBIZ in the rubber industry. GIRSAL’s support has reshaped our agricultural portfolio, particularly in executing 1D1F transactions, and has opened our eyes to the potential of large-scale commercial farming.

Mr. Linus Kumi

Head of Corporate Banking, GCB Bank PLC

GIRSAL @5 Documentary Video

Rubber Value Chain Documentary

Rubber Value Chain Conference Brochure

Our Achievements & Impact

Partner Financial Institutions

GHS 1.2+ billion

In GIRSAL guaranteed
agricultural loans issued
by partner FIs

GHS 100 million

Disbursed by PFIs to
agribusiness based on
GIRSAL expert assessment
without guaranteed cover

137

Agribusinesses
financed by FIs with
GIRSAL guarantee
cover

1% to 6%

Reduction in interest
rates on GIRSAL
guaranteed loans

GHS 1.34 million

has been saved by
agribusinesses in interest
payments due to the
reduction in interest rates

2,990+

Direct and indirect jobs
created and sustained
by agribusinesses
that benefit from
guaranteed loans

67,000

Farmers and farm
workers positively
impacted by projects
funded through GIRSAL
guaranteed loans

USD 25 million+

In export earnings
generated by projects
funded through GIRSAL
guaranteed loans

700

Mid-level staff from
financial institutions
trained to effectively
assess and manage risks
in agricultural lending.

181

senior bank executives
and board members from
9 financial institutions
reached through targeted
capacity-building sessions on
agricultural lending

financial institutions
participated in the training
(21 Commercial Banks, 14
Rural and Community Banks,
5 Microfinance Institutions, 2
Savings and Loans Institutions
and 5 Others)

199 (28%)

of the training beneficiaries
were female, while the
males were 501 (72%)

Information Resource

A web-based Agriculture
and Agribusiness Lending
Knowledge Portal developed,
serving as a one-stop
information resource hub
for financial institutions with
information on 33 agricultural
commodities

700+

Users from 39 Institutions
actively using the
Knowledge Portal, with
over 6000 visits since
November 2020

GIRSAL Guaranteed Loans By Sub-Sectors

GIRSAL Guaranteed Loans By Value Chain Activity (As of August 2024)

*cross-cutting (crops) represents guaranteed loans to agribusinesses for more than one crop value chain **others represent guaranteed loans to Spice, Legumes, Aquaculture and Livestock

GIRSAL Guaranteed Loans By Sub-Sectors

GIRSAL's Future Outlook

As financial institutions deepen their understanding of the agricultural sector and gain confidence in lending, GIRSAL plans to enhance its support through targeted and specialized services:

Targeted Guarantee Scheme

GIRSAL will focus its Guarantee Scheme on high-risk projects and large-scale initiatives within specific value chains, optimizing resource allocation where it is most needed for growth

Comprehensive Portfolio Management

GIRSAL aims to become the primary agricultural loan portfolio manager for financial institutions, providing thorough monitoring and management of partner-funded projects.

Support for Agribusinesses

GIRSAL will bolster support for agribusinesses by assisting in the
development of bankable projects and improving their appeal to banks for financing GIRSAL will bolster support for agribusinesses by assisting in the
development of bankable projects and improving their appeal to banks for financing

Policy Influence

GIRSAL plans to work closely with stakeholders to shape agricultural sector
policies, ensuring that sector players have a strong voice in developing supportive regulations