Access Bank appoints Pearl Nkrumah as first female Managing Director

Access Bank appoints Pearl Nkrumah as first female Managing Director

September 25, 2025

Access Bank (Ghana) Plc has announced the appointment of Pearl Nkrumah as its new Managing Director, effective October 1, 2025.

Her appointment, approved by the Board of Directors and the Bank of Ghana in line with regulatory requirements, makes her the first female Managing Director of the Bank since it began operations in Ghana.

Ms. Nkrumah succeeds Olumide Olatunji, who has led the Bank since 2018 and now transitions into a new executive role within the parent company, Access Bank Plc in Nigeria.

Until her elevation, Ms. Nkrumah served as Executive Director for Retail and Digital Banking at Access Bank Ghana, as well as Head of Retail Business for Access Africa subsidiaries outside Nigeria, where she drove retail banking strategy across 15 markets on the continent. She also chairs the Council of the Ghana Stock Exchange, representing listed companies.

With more than 25 years of experience in the banking and financial services sector, she has worked with Standard Chartered Bank from 1998 to 2012, before joining Stanbic Bank in 2012, where she held several senior leadership roles.

Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Access Bank Ghana, Ama Bawuah, said Ms. Nkrumah’s appointment reflects the Bank’s commitment to leadership diversity and succession planning.

“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. We are confident that she will lead the Bank into its next phase of growth, building on the successes of her predecessor, while inspiring future generations of women in leadership,” she said.

In her acceptance remarks, Ms. Nkrumah described the role as a privilege.

“Together with the Board, management, and our dedicated employees, we will deliver superior value to our customers, shareholders, and communities, building Ghana’s leading catalyst for growth in line with our vision to be the world’s most respected African bank and a true partner in national progress,” she said.

Outgoing Managing Director, Olumide Olatunji, expressed confidence in his successor, noting that her leadership and expertise are well recognised in the industry.

Access Bank Ghana has in recent years recorded significant growth in investor confidence, customer deposits and partnerships with global institutions such as IFC, MasterCard and Norfund. The Bank has also won several awards, including Best Bank in Ghana (Euromoney, 2023 & 2025; Global Finance, 2024 & 2025), Best Bank ESG (Euromoney, 2024), and Outstanding Sustainable Project Financing (Karlsruhe Awards, 2025).