A scene during the event
The Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana (CIB Ghana) has launched the 2026 edition of the “Ghanaian Banker Magazine,” its flagship publication chronicling the state of the country’s banking industry and the Institute’s role in shaping professional standards in the sector.
The launch took place at CBEL Connect, an evening event that brought together alumni of the Institute’s Chartered Banker Executive Leadership (CBEL) programme, bank chief executives, Council members and officials of the Bank of Ghana to discuss pertinent issues affecting the industry.
In a welcome address, Dr. Ellen Ohene-Afoakwa, President-elect of CIB Ghana, said the launch reflected the Institute’s ongoing commitment to strengthening professional standards across the banking industry.
“The 2026 edition of the ‘Ghanaian Banker Magazine’ reinforces CIB Ghana’s position as a thought leader and a standard bearer for professionalism in banking,” she said.
She expressed gratitude to members and partners for their continued support of the Institute’s work, stating, “When bankers connect with purpose, the entire banking industry and the economy move forward.”
CIB Ghana Chief Executive Officer, Robert Dzato, took guests through the contents of the new edition, describing it as one of the most comprehensive editions produced by the Institute.
“This edition captures where our industry stands today and where it is headed,” he said, noting that the magazine was designed to speak to bankers, regulators and the wider public alike.
The 2026 edition carries messages from the outgoing President, Benjamin Kwabla Amenumey, and the President-elect, alongside a perspective piece from the Bank of Ghana’s Second Deputy Governor, Matilda Asante-Asiedu, on the future of banking.
It also features a leadership interview with former Managing Director of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), Albert Essien; a “profit with purpose” article by the Managing Director of GCB Bank, Farihan Alhassa; and a personality profile of the Managing Director of Consolidated Bank Ghana, Dr. Naomi Wolali Kwetey.
The edition also contains economic outlook and budget highlights, alongside comparative reviews of bank performance across key industry indicators. It further reflects on CIB Ghana’s history and its work in developing trusted professionals for the sector.
Beyond its editorial content, the magazine highlights CIB Ghana’s professional development programmes, including the Associate Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) qualification and the CBEL programme, as well as the Institute’s financial literacy outreach in secondary schools nationwide.
Speaking at the launch, Mrs. Asante-Asiedu, ACIB, a member of the first CBEL cohort, commended CIB Ghana for the initiative and its continued investment in professional development.
“It is a great pleasure to join you this evening to launch the Ghanaian Banker. No amount of innovation, as we have seen, will serve this industry well without the right foundation. Banking has always been built on a currency of trust,” she said.
She said trust was earned over time and had to be protected through integrity, professionalism and responsible conduct at every level of banking.
“Whether it is from the CEO level to the branch manager, or even the security officer who welcomes you first into a bank branch,” she added, such values remained essential to the industry.
She further said publications of this nature played a valuable role in strengthening the sector’s institutional memory and public accountability.
A Business Desk Report