Hollard Ghana Group CEO Patience Akyianu reportedly dies

The circumstances surrounding the reported death remain unknown at the time of publication. In October 2018, Mrs Akyianu moved from Barclays Bank Ghana to Hollard Ghana Holdings, where she became the Group Chief Executive Officer. Her appointment came as Hollard expanded its operations in Ghana, bringing together Hollard Insurance Ghana, formerly Metropolitan Insurance, and Hollard Life Assurance Ghana. She became the group’s first CEO, taking responsibility for its growth strategy and efforts to expand insurance access and develop customer-focused products. Mrs Akyianu built much of her career in banking, rising through senior financial and executive roles before becoming Managing Director of Barclays Bank Ghana. Her career spanning more than two decades across banking, insurance and corporate leadership. She previously served as Finance Director at the bank and went on to lead the institution as Managing Director for five years. A profile published by the Ghana Stock Exchange said 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. Her academic background included an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, specialising in Accounting, from the University of Ghana Business School. She was also a professional accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana. Reflecting on the transition in 2021, Mrs Akyianu described her move from banking to insurance as a “leap of faith”, acknowledging that she was entering an industry in which she had relatively limited experience. She said the opportunity was driven by her confidence in Hollard’s brand, purpose and vision, and the prospect of helping build it into a household name in Ghana. Her tenure at Hollard was subsequently associated with efforts to expand the company’s distribution channels, strengthen customer experience and develop products aimed at underserved segments of the market. Mrs Akyianu’s career in Ghana’s financial services sector earned her several professional recognitions. In May 2025, she received 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 financial and capital markets. She was also recognised for her work in leadership and mentorship. Beyond her executive responsibilities, Mrs Akyianu served on corporate boards and was a founding member of the Executive Women Network and the International Women’s Forum, Ghana. Source: Citi Newsroom (https://www.citinewsroom.com/2026/09/hollard-ghana-group-ceo-patience-akyianu-reportedly-dies/)