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…