On October 1, 2025, Pearl Nkrumah will officially take the helm of Access Bank Ghana as managing director, becoming the first woman to lead the bank since it began operations in the country. A historic appointment, approved by both the Board of Directors and the Bank of Ghana.
Today, Access Bank Ghana is a leading financial institution with 52 branches spread across major cities and commercial hubs nationwide. It is part of the wider Access Bank Group, which operates in eight African countries as well as in China, India, Dubai, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom. With Pearl Nkrumah at the helm, the bank enters a new chapter, one defined by visionary female leadership, where innovation, inclusion, and performance converge.
A Career Built on Excellence
With 27 years of experience, Pearl Nkrumah is far from a newcomer to the banking industry. Also Chair of the Ghana Stock Exchange since February 21, 2025, she has built her career within several multinational institutions operating across Africa, Europe, and Asia, thereby developing exceptional expertise and a strategic vision with a truly global scope.
Her journey began in 1998 at Standard Chartered Bank, where she cut her teeth in a competitive environment. In 2012, she joined Stanbic Bank Ghana, where her rise was nothing short of remarkable. She held key leadership positions, including Head of Enterprise Banking and the Main Market & Ecosystems segment. Under her leadership, the division experienced exceptional growth and helped reshape the bank’s inclusive banking model. She designed the blueprint and structure for Stanbic Bank’s inclusive and mass-market segments, and notably established the Youth Banking Desk, an innovation aimed at boosting financial inclusion for young people.
Rising Through the Ranks at Access Bank
In 2022, Pearl Nkrumah joined Access Bank Ghana as executive director for retail and digital banking. In this role, she not only oversaw retail operations in Ghana but also supervised those of 15 Access Africa subsidiaries outside Nigeria, extending her influence across the continent. This responsibility placed her at the forefront of driving the group’s retail strategy across diverse markets, cementing her reputation as an agile and visionary leader.
That same year, in January 2022, she became the first woman appointed to the Board of Directors, quickly establishing herself as a cornerstone in shaping the bank’s strategic direction. Her appointment as Managing Director is therefore a natural progression, the culmination of a career defined by consistency, performance, and an ability to anticipate shifts in the banking sector.
A Woman of Conviction and Vision
Pearl Nkrumah’s approach to banking goes well beyond technical expertise. She combines a sharp client focus with a resolutely digital-first orientation. For her, the bank of tomorrow is, above all, a life enabler, one that creates bridges between individuals, businesses, and ecosystems. Her digital-first mindset reflects a vision of banking reimagined, where technology serves human needs.
What truly sets her apart, however, is her social commitment. Passionate about so-called “Beyond-the-Bank” initiatives, she champions gender equity, economic empowerment, education, and entrepreneurship. These values align seamlessly with Access Bank Ghana’s mission, making her an ideal ambassador to advance its social responsibility agenda and deepen community engagement.
A Strong Academic Foundation
Pearl Nkrumah has followed a rich and diverse academic and professional path, combining expertise in management, governance, and leadership.
She recently completed the Authentic Leader Development program and the Leading Organizational Change module at Harvard Business School, strengthening her skills in change management and strategic leadership.
Furthermore, she holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). She also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in management, marketing, and related services, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing/Marketing Management from the University of Ghana.
She also completed a program in corporate governance, earning a Diploma from the Corporate Governance Institute (August 2024-June 2025), further strengthening her expertise in corporate governance and responsible leadership practices.
