Fidelity Bank Ghana has pledged to back the Government’s ambition to build a 24-hour economy, while it supports economic growth by promoting trade and investment between Ghana and China.
Mr John-Paul Taabavi, Director of the Public Sector Group at Fidelity Bank, stated this at the just ended summit, in Accra, to strengthen trade and business between Ghanaian and Chinese business and trade partners.
He said the Bank was providing real-time, practical solutions to support businesses and drive long-term growth.
“Trade relationships don’t run on goodwill alone,” Mr Taabavi said. “They need banking infrastructure that works across time zones, understands cultural nuances, and provides consistent, inclusive access to capital.”
The summit, held at the Labadi Beach Hotel, brought together government officials, business leaders and development partners from Ghana and China.
It was held under the theme: “Synergising Opportunities: Strengthening the Ghana-China Business Relationship and Fostering a 24-Hour Economy.”
Mr Taabavi spoke about Fidelity Bank’s record in financing major industrial and infrastructure projects.
“The 24-hour economy we envision is not just about staying open longer. It’s about building systems that work around the clock – systems that enable a Ghanaian SME to ship to Guangzhou at midnight, and a Chinese manufacturer to settle payments in real-time,” he said.
“Ghana is ready. Fidelity Bank is ready. And with our friends from China, the opportunities are endless,” he added.
He said Fidelity Bank was aligning its services with national priorities.
These include offering pre-approved credit lines to high-performing Ghanaian businesses and trade finance for companies that import solar products and telecom equipment.
Mr Taabavi noted that building a 24-hour economy would require more than just financing.
He called for strong systems would make trade predictable, support cold-chain logistics, and reward sustainability with better access and pricing.
“We must build solid systems – ones that support cross-border trade predictability, prioritise cold-chain logistics, and reward sustainability not just in principle, but in pricing and access,” he said.
He added that Fidelity Bank would soon introduce new measures to support business.
These include deeper engagement with Chinese and Indian chambers of commerce and new green finance products for industrial clients.
The Bank also plans to use predictive analytics to support SMEs that lack traditional credit histories.
“Local banks matter,” he said. “Because we know the terrain, we know the players, and we are invested in the long-term success of Ghana.”
He described the Bank as a reliable partner that “supports businesses to operate efficiently at any time of day or night.”
Highlighting its commitment to the Chinese partnership, he mentioned the Bank’s role as a major syndicate partner in the Sentuo Oil Refinery project, which is now the largest privately-owned refinery in Ghana.
He also referred to the Bank’s support for the Triton OCH pulp-to-paper project and its long-term partnerships with the Sunda Group.
These projects, he said, showed Fidelity’s strong commitment to Ghana’s industrial development through international partnerships.
To serve its growing Asian business clients, Fidelity Bank has set up a Local Corporate and Asian Business Desk.
This desk is part of its Corporate and Institutional Banking Division. It is staffed with relationship managers who speak Mandarin and Hindi.
This helps the Bank engage clients in a more culturally intelligent and effective way.
Mr Taabavi said the Bank had also improved its corporate internet banking platform. The platform now offers multilingual features, which allow clients who speak Mandarin to use the system with ease.
“Finance is about trust and trust grows in understanding,” he said. “Whether you’re a Ghanaian SME exporting cocoa nibs or a Chinese EPC contractor building in Tema, you deserve a banking partner that speaks your language – literally and operationally.”
