Ghanaian creatives losing funding opportunities over poor documentation – Sustainable finance expert

The Head of Sustainable Financing at Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), Eva Ackuaku, has expressed concern over the inability of many Ghanaian creatives to access available funding opportunities due to poor documentation and a lack of formal business structures.

According to her, many talented individuals in the creative industry, particularly photographers and other content creators, struggle to secure financial support because they operate without registered businesses, bank accounts or proper financial records.

Speaking at the Climate x Culture Summit organised by CultureJoint in partnership with the Ministry for Climate Change and Sustainability on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Ms Ackuaku urged creatives to formalise their operations and adopt sustainable financial practices to attract investment.

She explained that although Ghana’s creative industry has enormous economic potential, many practitioners remain in the informal sector, making it difficult for financial institutions to assess their eligibility for funding.

“The creative industry is a viable industry. However, most of these people are found in the informal sector,” she stated.

Citing photographers as an example, Ms Ackuaku noted that some creative professionals who have worked for several years are unable to provide basic documentation, including invoices and proof of business registration.

• Read also: Climate x Culture Summit brings creatives, sustainability experts together to advance sustainability in Africa

“I have employed some of them within the bank. And then they ask you, oh, madam, I don’t have an invoice. Madam, I don’t have a business,” she recounted.

She questioned why creatives with established careers continue to operate without formal registration or bank accounts, explaining that such records are essential for assessing their financial activities and determining their eligibility for support.

“Why haven’t you registered your company? Why don’t you have a bank account? If I want to help you scale, it means that I should have your bank account to tell me the inflows and the outflows in your bank statement,” she said.

Ms Ackuaku further emphasised that creative professionals seeking financial assistance must demonstrate the sustainability of their projects through proper research, financial planning and viable business models.

“How do we scale if the business is not sustainable? And so we must ensure that whatever projects that you are bringing to us, it is sustainable,” she stressed.

She explained that financial institutions have a responsibility to ensure that funds are invested prudently so that resources remain available to support other creatives and emerging entrepreneurs.

“As a bank, we work for the public. The funds are not for the bank. It’s for everyone who is seated here,” she stated.

“And we owe that obligation to ensure that we put it to good use and make it very sustainable,” she added.

Ms Ackuaku also expressed concern that Ghana continues to miss out on funding opportunities because potential beneficiaries, including creative professionals, are often unable to meet the necessary requirements.

“Funds come to Ghana and we’re unable to assess the funds. And it goes back,” she lamented.

Other panellists included Robert Klah, Head of Public Relations at Charterhouse; Kofi Adjei, Head of Research at the Multimedia Group; and African art curator Nuna Adisenu-Doe.

The Climate x Culture Summit brought together stakeholders from the creative, financial and environmental sectors to explore the role of culture and creativity in advancing climate action and sustainable development.

Ms Ackuaku urged creatives to take advantage of available financing opportunities by registering their businesses, maintaining proper financial records and developing sustainable projects capable of attracting investment and supporting long-term growth in Ghana’s creative industry.