The Braille-Assisted Services have been designed to allow visually impaired customers to conduct transactions independently, securely and with dignity. By offering Braille versions of key banking documents, OmniBSIC is addressing one of the major barriers to financial participation among the visually impaired — limited access to clear and accessible information.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, about four per cent of Ghanaians, representing over 1.2 million people, live with some form of visual impairment. Many rely on relatives or friends to read documents or assist them in banking halls, often at the expense of privacy and confidence. OmniBSIC’s new service seeks to change that reality, giving customers the autonomy to open accounts, read information and make informed financial decisions.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of OmniBSIC Bank, Daniel Asiedu, described the initiative as a powerful reflection of the bank’s core values. “At OmniBSIC, we believe banking should be for everyone, everywhere. Our Braille-Assisted Services are not just a technological addition; they are a statement of our belief that accessibility is a right, not a privilege,” he said. “We want every customer to experience the same dignity, independence, and confidence when they visit our banking halls or use any of our digital platforms,” he added.

He further noted that the bank aims to extend similar services to all persons with disabilities, not only the visually impaired.

As part of efforts to promote inclusivity, the Bank engaged students of the University of Ghana’s Assistive Technology Lab during the 2025 Global Customer Service Week, held under the theme Mission: Possible. The event, organised in collaboration with the university’s Institutional Advancement Directorate, Information Technology Directorate and the Centre for Disability Studies and Advocacy (CEDSA), marked an important milestone in OmniBSIC’s financial inclusion journey.

At the engagement, the Group Head of Corporate and Support Services, Mrs Chidinma Braye-Yankee, reiterated the Bank’s belief that inclusion must be driven by empathy, innovation and collaboration. “We do not presume to know what our customers need. We want to listen, learn, and co-create solutions that make every interaction meaningful,” she said. “Our goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of income level, gender, location, ability or background, has fair and convenient access to financial services that empower them to thrive. Inclusive banking is not just an option; it is essential.”

She added that OmniBSIC’s investments in inclusive technology were, at their core, investments in people. “Through initiatives like this, we are building a system where no one is left behind, and every customer can transact independently and with confidence,” Mrs Braye-Yankee stated.

During the visit, the OmniBSIC team toured the University of Ghana’s Assistive Technology Lab to observe how voice-assisted computers and screen-reading devices were used to support visually impaired students. The Chief Information Technology Officer of the University’s Information Technology Directorate, Engineer Francis Kwabena Boakye, praised the initiative as the first of its kind by a financial institution. “This collaboration connects the ideals of academic innovation with real-world impact. Through this shared effort, we can ensure that technology truly empowers all,” he said.

The Head of the Assistive ICT Lab, Mr Alexander Bankole Williams, who is visually impaired and has 25 years of advocacy experience, delivered a presentation on The Future of Banking: Enhancing Access for Persons with Disabilities in Ghana. He stressed that financial inclusion for persons with disabilities is not a matter of charity but a right. Citing the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), he said, “Accessibility is not optional; it is a legal and moral imperative,” urging other financial institutions to emulate OmniBSIC’s example.

Professor Joana Salifu Yendork, Director of CEDSA, called on banks and other customer-facing institutions to adopt a “total inclusivity approach” that ensures equal access and respect for all persons, regardless of disability.

OmniBSIC Bank also announced that it had begun implementing the Braille-Assisted Services and staff training on visual impairment awareness. The Bank plans to extend sensitisation programmes across its 40-branch network to strengthen service delivery for customers with special needs.

The initiative aligns with the Bank of Ghana’s Financial Inclusion for Persons with Disability Directive and supports Sustainable Development Goal 10, which promotes the social, economic and political inclusion of all people, including those with disabilities.