The former Managing Director of Barclays Bank Ghana and Group Chief Executive Officer of Hollard Ghana, Patience Enyonam Akyianu, has reportedly died.
Her reported passing is a major loss to Ghana’s banking and insurance sectors, where she built a career spanning more than two decades and held several senior leadership positions.
The circumstances surrounding her death have not been independently confirmed. However, the CEO Network Ghana announced her passing in a statement, describing her as a distinguished CEO and expressing condolences to her family, colleagues, friends and loved ones.
“Her passing is a deeply painful loss to the business community and to all of us who knew and cherished her. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, colleagues, friends and loved ones. May God grant them strength and comfort during this difficult time. Further details will be shared as received from the family. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace”, it said.
Mrs Akyianu spent much of her professional career in banking, rising through senior financial and executive roles before becoming Managing Director of Barclays Bank Ghana, a position she held for five years.
According to a profile published by the Ghana Stock Exchange, she had more than 26 years of experience in banking and finance, including 17 years in banking before moving into the insurance industry in 2018.
She held an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, specialising in Accounting, from the University of Ghana Business School. She was also a certified professional accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana.
In October 2018, she left Barclays Bank Ghana to become CEO of Hollard Ghana Holdings, leading the newly established insurance group. The group brought together Hollard Insurance Ghana, formerly Metropolitan Insurance, and Hollard Life Assurance Ghana.
As Hollard’s first CEO, she focused on expanding the company’s presence in Ghana and developing insurance solutions for consumers and businesses.
In a 2021 reflection on her career, Mrs Akyianu described her transition from banking to insurance as a leap of faith. She was drawn to the opportunity to build Hollard into a household name despite having limited experience in the sector.
“I saw a great brand with a great purpose, a great vision, and a great business ethos,” she wrote.
She later described her time at Hollard as a period of transformation, innovation and growth, while recognising the difficulties involved in building a business in a new industry.
Mrs Akyianu received several honours for her contribution to Ghana’s financial services sector. In May 2025, she was presented with the Millennium Excellence Award for Finance and Capital Market Excellence at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
The award recognised her leadership at Barclays Bank Ghana and Hollard Ghana, as well as her contribution to Ghana’s finance and capital markets. The citation also highlighted her involvement in the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards at Standard Chartered Bank and Barclays Bank Ghana.
Beyond her executive positions, she served on corporate boards and was a founding member of the Executive Women Network and the International Women’s Forum, Ghana.
At Hollard Ghana, she promoted initiatives designed to make insurance more accessible, particularly to underserved individuals and businesses. One example was the Asomdwee insurance product, launched with the Ghana Enterprises Agency in 2021 to provide tailored insurance cover for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Her tenure also saw Hollard invest in new distribution channels, digital insurance solutions and customer experience, reinforcing her focus on expanding access to insurance in Ghana.
