CIB Ghana says Trust and Skills Remain Critical to Banking Sector

 

Ghana’s banking sector will need stronger professional standards, ethical leadership and public trust to sustain growth as technology and changing customer expectations reshape financial services.

The Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana (CIB Ghana) made the case at the launch of the 2026 edition of The Ghanaian Banker magazine in Accra.

The publication, which examines developments in the banking industry, was launched during the CBEL Connect event at Alisa Hotel, bringing together bank chief executives, regulators, bankers and alumni of the Chartered Banker Executive Leadership programme.

President-elect of CIB Ghana, Dr. Mrs Ellen Ohene-Afoakwa, said professional development remained important to the future of the industry.

She said stronger connections among banking professionals could contribute to the performance of the sector and the wider economy.

CIB Ghana Chief Executive Officer, Robert Dzato, said the latest edition examines the current state of the banking industry and issues likely to shape its future.

The magazine includes contributions from the Bank of Ghana, bank executives and other industry leaders. It also contains economic and budget analysis, comparisons of bank performance and discussions on leadership and professionalism.

Trust remains central to banking

Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Matilda Asante-Asiedu, who was part of the first CBEL cohort, said technological innovation alone would not guarantee a stronger banking industry.

She said trust remained central to banking and had to be built through integrity, professionalism and responsible conduct.

“Banking has always been built on a currency of trust,” she said.

According to her, professional standards must apply across the industry, from chief executives and branch managers to frontline staff.

The comments come at a time when banks and other financial institutions are increasingly relying on digital platforms to serve customers, making confidence in financial institutions and the systems they operate increasingly important.

Developing banking talent

The magazine also highlights CIB Ghana’s professional development programmes, including the Associate Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) qualification and the Chartered Banker Executive Leadership programme.

The Institute said these programmes are intended to strengthen the skills and leadership capacity of professionals working in the financial sector.

It also highlighted its financial literacy programme in secondary schools, reflecting the Institute’s interest in improving understanding of financial services among young people.

The 2026 edition features a perspective on the future of banking from Mrs Asante-Asiedu, a leadership interview with former Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Managing Director Albert Essien, and contributions from executives including GCB Bank Managing Director Farihan Alhassa and Consolidated Bank Managing Director Dr Naomi Wolali Kwetey.

The publication also reviews economic conditions, budget issues and the performance of banks across selected industry indicators.

Banking industry looks ahead

CIB Ghana said The Ghanaian Banker would continue to be published annually as a platform for industry analysis and professional discussion.

The Institute is also preparing to host the 2028 World Conference of Banking Institutes after securing the right to host the international event.

Established in 1963, CIB Ghana is the statutory professional body responsible for promoting the study of banking and regulating the practice of the banking profession in Ghana under the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana Act, 2019 (Act 991).

For an industry whose business depends heavily on confidence, CIB Ghana’s message is that professional competence and ethical conduct remain as important to banking as technology and financial performance.