KEY POINTS
- President Mahama appoints Matilda Asante-Asiedu as Second Deputy Governor of Ghana’s central bank, leveraging her retail banking and communications expertise to bolster economic stability efforts.
- Asante-Asiedu’s tenure begins amid inflation challenges and currency volatility, with expectations focused on SME support and advancing Ghana’s digital currency initiatives.
- Her appointment marks continued strides in gender diversity at the BoG, while her predecessor’s cybersecurity reforms remain a priority alongside debt management and financial inclusion.
President John Dramani Mahama has appointed seasoned banker Matilda Asante-Asiedu as the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), effective immediately.
The announcement, made on Tuesday via a statement from Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, cited her “extensive expertise in retail banking and corporate leadership” as pivotal to her selection.
According to Ghana Business News, Asante-Asiedu replaces Elsie Addo Awadzi, whose term concluded in March 2025, and will work alongside Governor Ernest Addison and First Deputy Governor Maxwell Opoku-Afari to steer monetary policy amid Ghana’s economic recovery efforts.
Banking acumen meets media savvy in new Central Bank Leader Asante-Asiedu
Asante-Asiedu’s career spans over two decades, blending finance and communications. Before her BoG role, she served as Group Head of Retail Banking at Access Bank Ghana PLC, where she spearheaded digital banking initiatives that expanded financial inclusion to 1.2 million unbanked Ghanaians.
Her academic credentials include an MBA in Marketing from GIMPA Business School and a master’s in Journalism from Cardiff University—a rare fusion of financial and media expertise. “Her ability to communicate complex economic policies clearly will bridge gaps between the central bank and the public,” noted economist Dr. Kwame Owusu-Darko of the University of Ghana.
The appointment comes as Ghana navigates inflationary pressures (13.8% as of March 2025) and seeks to stabilize the cedi, which has depreciated by 9% against the dollar this year. Analysts speculate Asante-Asiedu’s retail banking background could prioritize SME support and digital currency integration, aligning with the BoG’s “eCedi” pilot program. Her predecessor, Awadzi, had championed cybersecurity reforms, leaving Asante-Asiedu to inherit ongoing efforts to fortify Ghana’s financial systems against cyber threats.
Notably, Asante-Asiedu is the third woman appointed to the BoG’s deputy governor role since 2017, signaling progress in gender representation. Former colleagues at Access Bank praised her leadership style: “She transformed our retail division by prioritizing tech-driven solutions—like mobile loan platforms—that reached rural communities,” said Cynthia Mensah, a branch manager.
The Bank of Ghana faces mounting pressure to curb inflation while supporting growth in key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. Asante-Asiedu’s immediate tasks include addressing non-performing loans (14.5% of total loans in 2024) and collaborating with the Finance Ministry on debt management strategies ahead of IMF loan repayments resuming in 2026.
