Ghana’s central bank and its premier professional banking body have pledged a renewed, united front to fortify the nation’s financial sector against emerging risks, fraudulent practices, and shifting technological disruptions.
The renewed alliance between the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB Ghana) was finalized during a high-level strategic visit by CIB Ghana’s newly appointed Governing Council to the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, at Bank Square in Accra.
The dialogue focused on embedding strict ethical standards, elevating professional capacity, and preparing the industry for complex challenges ranging from cybersecurity and digital assets to artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
Elevating Standards Across the Financial Spectrum
During the engagement, the incoming President of CIB Ghana, Dr. Ellen Ohene-Afoakwa, presented the Institute’s strategic roadmap aimed at fostering competent, future-ready banking professionals. She highlighted flagship initiatives such as the Branch CEO Programme, the Chartered Banker for Executive Leadership (CBEL) Programme, and nationwide ethics and fraud awareness certification campaigns.
Dr. Ohene-Afoakwa emphasized that the leadership team is focused on upholding integrity and building institutional capacity ahead of major global events.
“Our vision is centered on dialing up ethics and professionalism across all tiers of the banking sector, rebuilding the Bankers’ House, and successfully hosting a truly World Conference of Banking Institutes (WCBI),” Dr. Ohene-Afoakwa stated.
Ghana is scheduled to host the international WCBI conference in Accra in 2028, offering a global platform to highlight the nation’s financial education ecosystem and showcase Africa’s contributions to modern banking development.
Focus on Fraud Prevention and Community Banking
Welcoming the delegation, Governor Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama commended CIB Ghana’s proactive stance in supporting regulatory bodies and stakeholders, including the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB), to combat fraudulent activities and emerging operational risks.
Dr. Asiama stressed that high ethical standards are non-negotiable for maintaining public trust in financial institutions, comparing the sector’s duty of care to that of essential public services.
“Just as society expects unwavering competence and moral responsibility in the health sector, those working in the banking sector must consistently demonstrate high levels of professional skill, ethical conduct, and accountability,” Dr. Asiama remarked.
The Governor outlined ongoing central bank efforts to enforce rigorous background verifications and drive reforms within community banking. He challenged CIB Ghana to expand its training and certification programs beyond mainstream commercial banks.
“I encourage the Institute to extend its ethics and capacity-building frameworks to encompass community banks and the broader financial ecosystem to ensure holistic protection for depositors,” he added.
The meeting concluded with both entities expressing confidence that deepened institutional collaboration will foster a secure, trusted, and ethically sound banking industry capable of driving sustainable economic growth across Ghana.
