Queen Máxima urges Ghana to prioritise financial health in national inclusion strategy

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health, has urged Ghana to make financial health a central priority in its next National Financial Inclusion and Development Strategy.

She said the move would help households manage everyday expenses, withstand unexpected financial shocks and build long-term financial security.

Queen Máxima stressed that expanding access to financial services must go beyond increasing the number of people with bank accounts. Instead, individuals and businesses must be able to use financial products effectively to meet their needs and improve their livelihoods.

During a visit to Makola Market in Accra, Queen Máxima met traders using financial services provided by Affinity, including Joyce Ketu, who is rebuilding her business following a fire.

Her experience highlighted the importance of savings, insurance and access to longer-term financing in helping small businesses recover from unexpected setbacks.

The engagement demonstrated how appropriate financial products can help traders protect their livelihoods and rebuild their businesses when emergencies occur.

Queen Máxima also visited Manna Mission Hospital, where discussions with PharmAccess focused on the role of digital health services in improving financial security.

The discussions examined how digital healthcare solutions for people living with chronic conditions could reduce travel expenses and time away from work, allowing patients to protect their incomes and savings.

At a national event hosted by the Ministry of Finance, Queen Máxima called on stakeholders to develop a shared national vision for improving financial health through responsible innovation and measurable targets.

Her visit also involved engagements with financial institutions, employers and investors on ways to expand savings opportunities, provide suitable investment products and introduce flexible pension contributions for workers in the informal sector.

These discussions focused on ensuring that financial services respond to the realities of different groups, particularly people whose incomes are irregular or who lack access to conventional employment-based financial arrangements.

The visit followed earlier discussions on financial health with President John Dramani Mahama during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as well as engagements with the Finance Minister and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana during the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C.

Queen Máxima has served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health since September 2024.

In that role, she works with public and private sector leaders to promote financial services and policies that help individuals manage their money, withstand financial setbacks and achieve their financial goals.