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Policies

ESG

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Executive Summary

UBBfh – Ghana Bank is a pioneering institution dedicated to transformative sustainable finance. Our ESG policy reflects a progressive approach that marries environmental stewardship, social empowerment and robust governance. By offering free, digital-first banking services exclusively for women, we aim to uplift financial literacy and inclusion. This policy supports our licence application and demonstrates our long-term commitment to ethical banking, social equity and responsible innovation.

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Introduction

UBBfh – Ghana Bank is uniquely positioned to lead change in sustainable finance. With a women-only customer base and fee-free access to essential banking services – including current and savings accounts, virtual and physical cards – we are redefining banking for the underserved. Our digital-only platform, complemented by a comprehensive financial literacy programme and a hybrid remote staffing model, ensures that we drive social impact while maintaining superior operational efficiency.
This policy outlines our ESG framework, which is integral to:
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Enhancing environmental sustainability,
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Advancing social inclusion and empowerment, and
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Upholding the highest standards of governance.

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ESG Vision and Objectives

UBBfh’s ESG strategy is underpinned by a bold vision to create a sustainable banking ecosystem that transforms lives while safeguarding the planet. Our objectives include:
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Empowering Women: Delivering fee-free, accessible banking and educational programmes exclusively for women, thereby fostering financial independence and social equity.
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Environmental Responsibility: Embracing green technologies and digital innovations to minimise our carbon footprint and resource usage.
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Exemplary Governance: Ensuring transparency, accountability and rigorous oversight across all operations.
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Environmental Policy

Our commitment to environmental stewardship is integrated with our digital-first approach. By reducing physical infrastructure and optimising digital processes, we effectively reduce resource consumption and carbon emissions.

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Key Initiatives

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Green Digital Infrastructure:
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Utilise energy-efficient data centres and cloud solutions.
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Optimise app performance to reduce energy demands.
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Sustainable Operations:
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Minimise waste by promoting paperless transactions and communications.
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Monitor and reduce emissions linked to remote working arrangements.

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Performance Targets

Initiative
Target
KPI
Reduction in digital carbon footprint
2030
30% decrease in energy consumption relative to baseline
Promotion of paperless operations
2025
75% reduction in paper use across all processes
There are no rows in this table
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Social Policy

UBBfh’s social policy is fundamental to our mission of financial inclusion and empowerment. Serving an exclusively women clientele, we have tailored our services to remove traditional barriers and foster economic independence.

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Core Principles

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Financial Inclusion and Literacy:
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Provide free access to essential banking services including current accounts, savings accounts, virtual and physical cards.
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Deliver a comprehensive financial literacy programme designed to empower women with the knowledge to manage finances effectively.
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Community Engagement and Impact:
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Collaborate with local and international partners to expand educational and career development initiatives.
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Support community projects that advance social welfare and economic development.
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Inclusive Employment:
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Adopt a hybrid staffing model that combines local Ghanaian expertise with international talent, ensuring diverse perspectives and fostering inclusive growth.

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Implementation Strategies

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Launch regular financial literacy workshops and digital tutorials tailored for women.
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Establish partnerships with women’s organisations and community groups.
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Maintain transparent channels for customer and community feedback to continuously refine services.

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Governance Policy

Our governance framework is critical in ensuring that UBBfh adheres to ethical practices and maintains the highest standards of accountability and transparency.

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Key Components

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Board Oversight and Structure:
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The Board of Directors retains overall responsibility for ESG integration.
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An ESG committee is established to monitor performance, oversee risk management and recommend strategic improvements.
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Risk Management and Compliance:
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Implement stringent risk assessment protocols, including ESG risk audits.
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Adhere to both local and international regulatory standards to ensure robust compliance.
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Ethical Conduct and Transparency:
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Maintain rigorous internal controls and conflict-of-interest policies.
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Regularly publish detailed ESG performance reports to maintain stakeholder trust.

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Governance Framework

Element
Responsibility
Frequency
ESG Committee Oversight
Board
3 Months
Risk Assessment and Management
CRO & ESG Lead
6 Months
Internal Audits and Compliance
Internal Audit Dept
12 Months
There are no rows in this table
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Implementation and Operational Framework

UBBfh operationalises its ESG policy through a well-defined framework that integrates sustainable practices into our digital-first business model.

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Implementation Steps

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Policy Integration:
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Embed ESG criteria into all strategic decisions including lending, investment, and procurement.
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Align internal processes with ESG best practices derived from global standards.
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Staff Training and Capacity Building:
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Conduct regular ESG training for staff across all levels, with an emphasis on digital competency and sustainable practices.
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Develop specialised modules focusing on gender empowerment and ethical digital finance.
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Stakeholder Engagement:
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Actively engage women customers, community groups and industry experts to continuously improve our ESG initiatives.
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Establish structured feedback channels to gauge the impact and efficacy of our services.

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Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

UBBfh is committed to transparent, accountable and continuous improvement in our ESG performance.

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Monitoring Framework

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Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
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Environmental: Reduction in energy consumption, decreased paper use, and carbon footprint monitoring.
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Social: Customer satisfaction rates among women, uptake of financial literacy programmes, and community impact assessments.
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Governance: Compliance audit outcomes, board review assessments and timely risk mitigation.
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Evaluation Process:
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Conduct regular internal reviews and independent audits.
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Publish an annual sustainability report highlighting progress, challenges and strategic adjustments.
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Transparency:
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Regular public disclosure of ESG metrics and performance to build trust with all stakeholders.

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Risk Management and Remediation

UBBfh has a comprehensive risk management framework designed to pre-empt and mitigate potential ESG risks.

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Risk Mitigation Measures

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Environmental Risks:
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Implement proactive digital risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential energy inefficiencies.
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Develop contingency plans for operational disruptions related to digital infrastructure.
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Social Risks:
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Enforce policies to ensure non-discriminatory practices and a safe, inclusive digital environment for all customers.
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Establish crisis communication protocols to address any issues impacting customer trust.
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Governance Risks:
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Maintain rigorous oversight through regular audits and compliance checks.
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Update governance policies in response to evolving regulatory requirements.

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Conclusion and Future Roadmap

UBBfh – Ghana Bank is resolutely committed to an ESG framework that not only fulfils regulatory requirements but also drives transformative social and environmental impact. By focusing on a women-only customer base and delivering fee-free, digital banking services, we are creating a blueprint for sustainable, inclusive financial services.

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Future Focus Areas

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Expanding Digital Infrastructure:
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Enhance our energy-efficient digital platforms and expand remote staffing to further reduce environmental impact.
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Deepening Social Impact:
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Broaden our financial literacy programmes and community engagement efforts to amplify women’s economic empowerment.
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Governance Excellence:
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Continually refine internal controls and risk management strategies to maintain exemplary governance standards.
This comprehensive ESG policy paper is a living document. UBBfh remains committed to periodic review and enhancement of our ESG initiatives as we evolve with global best practices and stakeholder expectations.
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Executive Summary
Introduction
ESG Vision and Objectives
Environmental Policy
Key Initiatives
Performance Targets
Social Policy
Core Principles
Implementation Strategies
Governance Policy
Key Components
Governance Framework
Implementation and Operational Framework
Implementation Steps
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
Monitoring Framework
Risk Management and Remediation
Risk Mitigation Measures
Conclusion and Future Roadmap
Future Focus Areas
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