Absa Bank, BEN Africa to promote ethical business practices in Africa

ABSA Bank Ghana Ltd has teamed up with the Business Ethics Network Africa (BEN Africa) to support the 23rd annual BEN Africa Conference, which is set to take place in November 2024.

The highly anticipated conference, to be held in Ghana, will be hosted in collaboration with the Ghana Communications Technology University.

Established at the Nelson Mandela University Business School in South Africa, the BEN Africa Conference has grown into one of the continent’s most respected platforms for discussing and promoting ethical business practices.

 It draws leaders, businesses, and stakeholders from the private, public, and non-profit sectors, all focused on fostering ethical decision-making and accountability in African businesses.

At a ceremony in Accra to announce the partnership, Dr. Edward Nartey Botchway, Managing Director of Absa Bank Ghana, spoke passionately about the importance of ethics in business, emphasizing Absa’s commitment to moral integrity.

“For us at Absa, ethics is not just a corporate obligation,” Dr. Botchway stated. “We believe that it’s a critical path to long-term growth. This is not something we are doing to simply check a box; it is something that we strongly believe in.”

He continued by outlining the role of ethics within Absa, highlighting the bank’s internal culture of integrity and its dealings with external partners. “The Absa way of ethics spells out clearly how we engage both amongst ourselves and with our various partners. We believe in striving for the highest possible ethical benchmarks, and it’s something we not only aspire to but work to achieve every day.”

Dr. Botchway also recognized the longevity and importance of the BEN Africa Conference, now in its 23rd year, attributing its consistency to the critical nature of the conversations it fosters.

“The conference speaks to both the importance of the subject and the consistency of the organizers. I would urge us all to take advantage of this platform to advance the discussions around ethics and make real progress in this area,” he remarked.

Absa’s partnership with BEN Africa also includes the Absa BEN-Africa Supplier Day, a unique initiative aimed at empowering small businesses.

During this event, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will be introduced to the Ethically Aware Supplier Induction Programme, which equips executive management teams with the tools to foster ethics within their organizations.

Upon completion, businesses will receive accreditation as “Ethically Aware,” symbolizing their commitment to upholding high ethical standards.

Dr. Botchway encouraged attendees to fully engage in the upcoming conference, stressing that ethical business practices are key to the continent’s success. “The business environment in Africa has to be ethical,” he said.

“It’s not just something that is nice to have, but it is critical if we are going to achieve enough progress both as a country and as a continent.”

By sponsoring the conference, Absa is reaffirming its mission to be a force for good in Africa, promoting ethical leadership and responsible business practices across the continent.

Prof. George Ampong, Dean of the Ghana Communications Technology University Business School, echoed this sentiment, noting the alignment of the African Union’s development goals with the continent’s unique needs.

He emphasized that achieving these goals requires ethical conduct from businesses and leaders alike.

Through this collaboration, Absa Bank and BEN Africa aim to drive meaningful change in African business practices, ensuring that ethical principles guide the way forward for future growth and development.

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