A scene during the light up ceremony
In keeping with the best-loved tradition of Christmas, the management and staff of Zenith Bank Ghana held a Christmas Light-Up ceremony and Carols Night last Friday December 8, 2023, in remembrance of the birth of Jesus.
During the event at Zenith Heights, No. 37 Independence Avenue, Ridge, staff of the bank sang carolsand hymns to glorify God and show appreciation for His goodness throughout the highly successful year.
Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Ghana, Henry Onwuzurigbo, addressing the audience said, “2023 has been a very remarkable year for our Bank. We have achieved feats never seen or recorded in the history of our bank’s financial performance.”
He said the bank made its best unaudited pre-tax profit ever with a growth of 82% – from 403 million cedis in September 2022 to 735 million cedis in September 2023.
“Also, our total assets grew to GH¢12.03 billion, a 14.57% increase from the GH¢10.5 billion recorded during the comparable period of the third quarter of 2022,” he said.
Mr. Onwuzurigbo said when the bank thought business with customers would decrease, instead, “we saw an increase in total deposits by 22% which amounted to GH¢ 10.2 million, from the previous year’s figure of GH¢8.4 million.”
Touching on expansion, he said Zenith bank recently moved its Achimota branch to a new and more friendly business location, and the Bank is on the verge of expanding its business locations to other jurisdictions within the first quarter of 2024.
“These are successes chalked, despite the challenges and uncertainties that rocked the Banking industry in the early part of 2023.
With this performance so far, we are determined, motivated and confident as a bank to exceed our 2023 end of year financial targets,” he stated.
Light-Up Ceremony
The Bank’s Head Office building and walls were lit up in beautiful Christmas colours as the MD/CEO turned on the bright lights to kick-start the festive celebrations.
The MD/CEO stated that Zenith Bank is the pacesetter of what has become a national initiative to beautify the city’s landscape during this festive period.
“The beautification of Accra’s cityscape during the Christmas season is an initiative of Zenith Bank Ghana, started in December 2018 and one that the Bank has continued each year”.
He said, “in the glow of these lights, let us reflect on the resilience that defines us a Bank and as individuals for we have not only weathered the storm but have illuminated the path for more growth and success.”
“Let the lights of the cityscape here on the Independence Avenue and at the Big Six Roundabout, its medians as well as at the Terminal 3 Roundabout in the airport enclave be a reminder of the bright future we continue to build together as a bank and as a nation,” he added.
He used the opportunity to express his appreciation to customers, the Board of the Bank, management and stafffor the many feats attained this year. He also expressed appreciation to the media for being dependable partners throughout the year.
On the Bank’s outlook for the future, the MD/CEO stated, “We look forward to the future, rest assured that our focus on innovation, customer satisfaction and financial stability will continue to guide us.”
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri