Access Bank Ghana has officially announced the appointment of Pearl Nkrumah as its new Managing Director, effective October 1, 2025. This historic appointment marks a significant milestone, as Nkrumah becomes the first woman to lead the bank since its establishment in Ghana 16 years ago.
Her elevation to the top role follows formal approvals from both the Board of Directors and the Bank of Ghana, underscoring the confidence in her leadership and strategic vision. She succeeds Olumide Olatunji, who has served as Managing Director since 2018 and is now set to assume a senior executive position within Access Bank Nigeria, the bank’s parent company.
Pearl Nkrumah brings to the role more than 25 years of experience in the banking sector, with a strong track record across multiple domains including:
- Retail and Digital Banking
- Commercial Banking
- Risk Management
- Digital Transformation
Prior to her appointment, she served as Executive Director for Retail and Digital Banking at Access Bank Ghana. In that capacity, she not only led the bank’s retail strategy locally but also oversaw operations across 15 Access Africa subsidiaries outside Nigeria, demonstrating her regional influence and operational depth.
Nkrumah’s appointment is a landmark moment for gender representation in West African banking, where women remain underrepresented in executive leadership roles. Her rise reflects Access Bank Ghana’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and succession planning, aligning with broader efforts to empower women in finance.
Ama Bawuah, Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Access Bank Ghana, praised the appointment:
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.
In her first public remarks as incoming MD, Nkrumah shared her aspirations for the bank:
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.
Pearl Nkrumah began her banking career at Standard Chartered Bank in 1998 and later held senior roles at Stanbic Bank, where she specialized in commercial and business banking. She joined Access Bank in 2022 and currently serves as Chairperson of the Council of the Ghana Stock Exchange, representing listed companies.
Under Olatunji’s leadership, Access Bank Ghana expanded its footprint to 56 branches nationwide by the end of 2024. The bank also strengthened its reputation for innovation and sustainability, earning accolades such as:
- Best Bank in Ghana (Euromoney, 2023 & 2025)
- Best Bank ESG (Euromoney, 2024)
Strategic partnerships with global institutions like the International Finance Corporation (IFC), MasterCard, and Norfund further boosted investor confidence and positioned the bank as a leader in digital banking and financial inclusion.
In his farewell message, Olumide Olatunji expressed confidence in his successor:
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 recognized in the industry.
As she steps into her new role, Pearl Nkrumah faces the challenge of sustaining the bank’s digital transformation, expanding financial inclusion, and navigating Ghana’s competitive banking landscape. Her leadership is expected to build on the strong foundation laid by her predecessor while charting a bold new course for Access Bank Ghana.
