Access Bank Ghana Plc, a subsidiary of Access Holdings, has appointed Pearl Nkrumah as its first Ghanaian Managing Director, effective October 1, 2025. She succeeds Olumide Olatunji, who led the bank for seven years before taking an executive role at the group’s headquarters in Nigeria.
Her appointment — approved by the Board of Directors and the Bank of Ghana — marks the first time a woman has headed the bank since it began operations in May 2009.
Nkrumah’s elevation comes as Access Bank deepens its retail and digital banking franchise and expands partnerships with global development financiers.
Customer-centric career moves
Nkrumah brings more than 25 years of experience spanning retail and transactional banking, commercial banking, digital transformation, risk management, and corporate governance.
She began her career in 1998 at Standard Chartered Bank Ghana, rising through branch and business banking roles over 14 years.
In 2012, she joined Stanbic Bank Ghana, where she held several senior positions, including Head of SME Banking and Head of Main Markets & Clients Ecosystems, shaping products and partnerships to drive inclusion among small businesses and young people.
She moved to Access Bank (Ghana) Plc in February 2022 as Executive Director for Retail & Digital Banking, leading the bank’s retail business in Ghana and providing strategic oversight for retail operations across the bank’s 15 African subsidiaries, excluding Nigeria.
Beyond her executive role, she also serves as Chairperson of the Council of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), representing listed companies. She first joined the GSE Council in 2023 and was elected Chair in February 2025, becoming one of the most visible female leaders in Ghana’s financial sector.
Academic credentials, professional development
A graduate of the University of Ghana, Nkrumah holds a BSc in Business Administration (Marketing) and an MBA in Finance.
She also earned an LLB degree or Bachelor of Laws from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), a Diploma in Corporate Governance from the UK-based Corporate Governance Institute, and has completed senior leadership programmes at Harvard Business School.
Recognition for inclusive, digital-first leadership
Throughout her career, Nkrumah has been recognised for driving customer-centric innovation, championing youth and SME financial inclusion, and strengthening digital channels, including building the flagship structure of Stanbic Bank’s inclusive and Mass Market Business Segments, to broaden access to banking services.
She has also received several awards, in honour of her immense contribution in driving women’s inclusion around the banking world, one of which was the award for transformational leadership of the year, issued at the 2022 Women’s Choice Award.
Given the depth of her expertise, Nkrumah is expected to build on the bank’s good-standing portfolio, resulting in investor confidence growth, a good-performing balance sheet, and fostering local and global partnerships.
