Commodity-backed finance can unlock productive potential — B&FT CEO

Commodity-backed financing could play a pivotal role in unlocking capital for Ghana’s productive sectors and accelerating economic transformation, Chief Executive Officer of the Business and Financial Times (B&FT), Dr. Godwin Acquaye, has said.

Speaking at The Money Summit 2026, Dr. Acquaye urged policymakers and industry leaders to adopt innovative financing mechanisms that leverage the country’s abundant natural resources to support production and value addition.

“Ghana is blessed with some of the world’s most valuable commodities—gold, cocoa, oil and increasingly strategic minerals. Yet for decades we have exported raw commodities while struggling to access affordable financing for production and value addition. The global experience shows that commodities can serve as bankable assets capable of unlocking capital,” Dr. Acquaye said.

Despite Ghana’s wealth of commodities, including gold, cocoa, oil and strategic minerals, the country continues to face challenges accessing affordable financing for industrial activity and wealth creation, he noted.

Global experience, he said, demonstrates that commodities can serve as bankable assets capable of attracting investment and unlocking capital.

Dr. Acquaye cited Ghana’s cocoa sector, where structured commodity-backed financing arrangements have long supported cocoa purchases and exports, as evidence of the model’s effectiveness. He also referenced financing transactions in the mining industry, including the Bogoso-Prestea deal, as examples of commodity assets attracting significant investment.

He called for broader use of warehouse receipts, future production contracts and commodity assets to help smallholder farmers, agribusinesses and mining enterprises access affordable financing.

According to him, expanding such financing models, alongside stronger domestic capital mobilisation and financial inclusion, will be critical to sustaining Ghana’s economic recovery and long-term growth.

The post Commodity-backed finance can unlock productive potential — B&FT CEO appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story