Queen Máxima to promote financial health during visit to Ghana

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is in Ghana for a four-day visit aimed at improving the financial security of Ghanaians, amid concerns that millions of people with access to banking and mobile money services still struggle to manage their finances.

Figures from the 2021 FinScope survey show that only 22 per cent of Ghanaian adults were financially healthy, while 44 per cent were managing to cope and another 34 per cent were financially vulnerable.

This is despite significant progress in financial inclusion. The World Bank's Global Findex 2025 report shows that more than 80 per cent of adults in Ghana had bank or mobile money accounts in 2024.

Queen Máxima, who is visiting in her capacity as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health, will engage government officials, financial institutions, farmers, traders and other stakeholders on ways to help Ghanaians save, manage debt and withstand financial emergencies.

Her visit, which began on Monday, 2nd November, will end on Thursday, 5th November, 2026.

The discussions will focus on improving access to affordable credit, agricultural financing, insurance and pensions, particularly for low-income households and workers in the informal sector.

On Tuesday, 3rd November 2026, Queen Máxima is scheduled to visit a farm and a fruit-processing factory in the Upper West Akim District, where she will interact with farmers and workers about the financial difficulties they face, including unstable incomes and limited access to insurance.

She will also visit a hospital to learn how digital technology is helping patients manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension while reducing healthcare costs.

In Accra, she will meet women traders at Makola Market to discuss how savings and loan products are helping them manage and expand their businesses.

The Queen is expected to hold discussions with financial sector leaders at the Bank of Ghana on Wednesday, 4th November 2026, before engaging the World Bank on improving pension coverage and long-term savings, particularly for informal sector workers.

She will later travel to Kumasi to meet the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, his wife, Lady Julia Osei Tutu, and other traditional leaders.

The visit will conclude on Thursday with high-level meetings involving President John Dramani Mahama, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Food and Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku and Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama.

The government is also expected to announce a new financial sector development strategy aimed at improving financial inclusion and the financial wellbeing of Ghanaians.

The visit forms part of Queen Máxima's global advocacy for financial systems that go beyond providing bank accounts to helping people meet daily expenses, cope with unexpected financial difficulties and build long-term financial security.