Access Bank (Ghana) Plc has announced the appointment of Pearl Nkrumah as its new Managing Director, effective October 1, 2025. The appointment, approved by both the Board of Directors and the Bank of Ghana, is a landmark move that positions Nkrumah as the first woman to head the bank since it began operations in Ghana.
She succeeds Olumide Olatunji, who has served as Managing Director since 2018 and will now take up a new executive role at the parent company, Access Bank Plc, in Nigeria.The announcement signals a new chapter for the pan-African bank, which has consistently championed diversity, digital transformation, and sustainability in the financial services industry.
Here are few things to know about her:
She built her career across three leading banks
Pearl Nkrumah is no stranger to Ghana’s financial sector. With over 25 years of experience, she has worked with three of the country’s leading institutions: Standard Chartered, Stanbic Bank, and Access Bank.
Her banking journey began at Standard Chartered Bank in 1998, where she spent 14 years, holding various roles that exposed her to both retail and corporate banking. In 2012, she moved to Stanbic Bank Ghana, taking on senior leadership positions in commercial and business banking. There, she played a key role in SME banking and established initiatives such as the Youth Banking Desk, designed to improve financial inclusion for young people.
In 2022, Pearl joined Access Bank Ghana as Executive Director for Retail & Digital Banking. She also headed the bank’s retail operations for its subsidiaries across 15 African markets outside Nigeria. Her performance, marked by innovation and growth, set the stage for her elevation to the top role.
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She is already a trailblazer in corporate leadership
Beyond banking, Pearl Nkrumah has also contributed to Ghana’s wider financial ecosystem. She currently serves as Chairperson of the Council of the Ghana Stock Exchange, representing listed companies. This role has given her oversight of policy discussions, governance frameworks, and initiatives that strengthen investor confidence in Ghana’s capital markets.
Her appointment as Access Bank Ghana’s first female MD is seen as both a personal achievement and a powerful statement about women breaking barriers in the financial services sector. The bank’s Board Chair, Ama Bawuah, described her as a leader with a proven track record who will “inspire future generations of women in leadership.”
She takes over at a time of growth and global recognition
Access Bank Ghana has expanded significantly in recent years, winning recognition both at home and abroad. Under Olumide Olatunji’s leadership, the bank strengthened its balance sheet, grew customer deposits, and forged partnerships with global institutions like the IFC, Mastercard, and Norfund.
The bank has also earned major awards, including Best Bank in Ghana (Euromoney 2023 & 2025), Best Digital Bank (2023), and Best Bank ESG (2024), affirming its leadership in sustainability and digital transformation.
Pearl Nkrumah inherits this momentum. In her first remarks after the appointment, she described the role as a “great privilege” and pledged to deliver superior value to customers, shareholders, and communities. “Together with the Board, management, and our dedicated employees,” she said, “we will build Ghana’s leading catalyst for growth in line with our vision to be the world’s most respected African bank.”
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She represents a new face for banking in Africa
Nkrumah’s appointment is significant not only for Ghana but also for Africa’s wider financial sector. Women continue to be underrepresented in top banking positions, despite their growing contributions to the industry. Her rise sends a strong message about inclusion, succession planning, and the breaking of traditional barriers in African finance.
Outgoing MD Olumide Olatunji expressed confidence in his successor, saying he had “no doubt she will continue to strengthen the bank’s position and lead it to even greater heights.”
With her extensive experience in retail, digital transformation, and risk management, Pearl Nkrumah steps into the role at a time when Ghana’s banking sector faces both challenges and opportunities. Her leadership will be crucial in driving innovation, improving access to finance, and positioning Access Bank as a true partner in Ghana’s socio-economic development.