The Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB) Ghana is to boost the training of banking professionals to enable them to provide unmatched banking services to customers in the country.
The first female President of the CIB, Reverend Mrs Patricia Sappor, who is the Head of Corporate Communications of Ecobank Ghana and Anglophone West Africa (AWA), made the pledge after she was sworn into office together with three executive members to steer the affairs of the institute for the next two years.
Rev. Mrs Sappor told journalists after her swearing-in ceremony held at the institutes in Accra, “We want to reposition the institute to produce banking professionals who are digital savvy to serve customers of the banks very well”.
She added that technology had redefined banking in Ghana, with the advent of mobile or digital banking, emphasising that the institute, under her leadership, would put premium on imparting ICT knowledge into its student members.
“Customers’ needs and expectations are changing by the day with a lot more emphasis on bringing convenience to clients and creating customer centric institutions. It is now very critical to keep abreast of changing trends in the market place”.
These, Rev. Mrs Sappor noted, call for banking professionals with unparalleled skills and the highest level of integrity to continue to drive the banking sector of our economy.
“In view of the above, my vision and that of the governing council of the institute is to transform this professional educational facility into a world class, professional and financial-learning centre,” she stated.
Digital banking
Rev. Mrs Sappor said she was confident they shall achieve this vision through re-engineering the educational process of the institute to produce innovative and digital-savvy banking professionals, commence the building of the ultra-modern CIB educational facility; obtain the CIB Presidential Charter and build a strong network of Associate Bankers in Ghana.
Earlier in her acceptance speech, she pledged to collaborate with the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to support and strengthen the non-bank financial institutions such as micro finance/ savings and loans institutions in the country.
Rev. Mrs Sappor also pledged to work closely with the BoG, the Ghana Association of Bankers and other stakeholders to collaborate with the government and offer suggestions that would contribute to the growth of the country’s economy.
“Working as a team and with a dynamic governing council, we shall support one another to achieve the above”.
She used the occasion to pay glowing tribute to the past presidents of the institute, saying “What we see today as a great banking institute was nurtured by visionary presidents who led this institute with exemplary passion and commitment, bringing the institute to this adorable state, having trained many professional bankers in the banking fraternity”.
Rev. Mrs Sappor, who is the first female president of the institute after more than three decades of the institute’s existence, encouraged women to be assertive, believe in themselves, have a purpose, positively distinguish and position themselves for opportunities, be bold , resilient and make an impact, adding that “it is possible to get to the top”.
The immediate past President of CIB Ghana, Mr Clifford Duke Mettle, pledged to support Rev. Mrs Sappor and her team to deliver on their mandate. To this end he stated: “My successor is very capable to chalk up many more successes”.
Mr Mettle used the opportunity to thank the governing council members of the institute for their unflinching support during his term in office.
The Head of Banking Supervision at the BoG, Mr Raymond Amanfu, commended the institute for being a strong pillar for the growth and development of the financial sector.
He urged the new executive members of the institute to work with the BoG to address the challenges facing the microfinance institutions in the country.
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