Industry players advocate stronger pension resilience
PLAYERS in the pensions industry are calling for renewed resolve to strengthen the resilience and long-term sustainability of the country’s pension industry.
They say this was necessary to safeguard retirement income security for contributors and support national economic development.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Axis Pension Trust, Afriyie Oware, challenged stakeholders to critically assess whether the pension industry was adequately positioned to deliver meaningful retirement security for contributors in the years ahead.
He stressed the need for disciplined long-term investment thinking and deeper collaboration across the ecosystem in order to strengthen pension outcomes and achieve the intended objectives of the pension sector reform under Act 766.
Mr Oware was speaking at the eighth edition of the Pension Strategy Conference hosted by Axis Pension Trust in Accra on Wednesday.
Held on the theme: “Renewing the Ghanaian Pension Promise: Promoting Confidence, Resilience and Sustainable Growth,” the conference brought together key stakeholders to examine the evolving investment landscape and the future direction of pension fund management in Ghana.
The event comes at a pivotal moment for the industry following a period of macroeconomic instability, inflationary pressures and debt restructuring that tested pension portfolios and intensified discussions around diversification.
Post IMF
In his keynote address, Economist and Professor of Finance at the University of Ghana Business School, Professor Godfred Bokpin, provided an assessment of Ghana’s post-IMF economic transition and its implications for institutional investors.
Speaking on the topic “Navigating Ghana’s Post-IMF Transition: Historical Perspectives and Future Prospects,” he highlighted the importance of fiscal discipline, policy credibility and productive capital allocation in driving sustainable economic recovery.
One of the dominant themes emerging from the conference was the growing need for pension funds to diversify beyond traditional government securities into productive sectors of the economy that are capable of generating long-term value.
A high-level panel discussion, featuring fund managers, pension fund trustees and a custodian, explored how pension capital can be deployed more effectively into sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing and agriculture while balancing the fiduciary responsibility and risk management obligations of trustees.
Panellists as well as conference participants highlighted persistent barriers, including limited ‘bankable’ projects, structuring challenges, and regulatory constraints within the ecosystem.
However, speakers also noted that Ghana’s current economic transition presents a strategic opportunity for pension funds to reposition portfolios toward sustainable long-term growth while supporting broader developmental outcomes.
Since its inception, the Pension Strategy Conference has evolved into one of Ghana’s leading pension industry forums, driving conversations around pension policy, investment strategy and fund resilience.
Over the years, discussions from the conference have contributed to broader industry dialogue and best practice adoption, including investment guideline reforms and diversification to alternative assets.
The 2026 edition continued this tradition by providing stakeholders with a platform to examine the future of pension fund management in the context of Ghana’s evolving economic recovery and investment landscape.