This paper examined the impact of financial inclusion on Sub-Saharan African economies for the period, 1985 to 2017 with emphasis on Nigeria and Ghana. In line with earlier empirical studies, Gross Domestic Product Growth rate (GDPG) was used as proxy for economic growth while Commercial banks credit to private sector (BCPS), lending interest rates (LINT), Financial deepening (FIND), number of Rural bank branches (NRBB), Total bank loans to rural dwellers (CBLR), Bank Credit to Agriculture (CBCA) and commercial banks liquidity ratios (LIQR) were used to represent financial inclusion. Panel data analytical approach and Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model method were employed to investigate the effect of the explanatory variables of reference on the selected economies. This paper departed slightly from the recent empirical literature by utilising panel cointegration test, test for equality of variances and Hausman test. The study found that financial inclusion has significant impact on sub-Saharan economies. In particular, BCPS and commercial Banks credit to rural dwellers proxied by NRBB had statistically significant influence on Sub-Saharan African economies while LINT had statistically significant negative impact on GDPG. The weak influence of some of the regressors led the study to conclude that most of the activities of financial institutions in the region do not significantly aid the flow of funds to deficit economic units. The study recommends that Private Sector Credit Guarantee Scheme (PSCGS) should be established in Sub-Sahara African region in order to achieve efficient and effective allocation of funds for productive investment, and for provision of technical assistance and guide
Keywords: Financial Inclusion, Economic growth, Panel Data, sub-Saharan Africa