The Board Chairman of GCB Bank PLC, Prof. Joshua Alabi, has paid a courtesy call on the Nungua Mantse and President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Oboade Notse King Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, as part of efforts to strengthen the bank’s relationship with the Nungua Traditional Council.
The engagement formed part of GCB Bank PLC’s broader stakeholder consultations as the bank moves to deepen its presence in Nungua, including discussions around the construction of a new banking training school and other development initiatives.
Prof. Alabi, addressing the Nungua Traditional Council, highlighted GCB’s long-standing contribution to Ghana’s economic development and described the bank as an important institution in the country’s financial sector.
He said GCB, formerly known as Ghana Commercial Bank, had expanded significantly over the years and currently operates about 184 branches across Ghana, making it one of the banks with a strong nationwide presence.
According to him, the bank’s growth had been driven by the commitment of its board, management and staff, as well as continuous investment in human capital and institutional development.
Prof. Alabi said GCB’s financial performance had also remained strong, noting that the bank recorded significant profits in recent years despite the challenging economic environment.
He explained that the strength of Ghanaian companies, particularly major financial institutions such as GCB, was critical to the growth of the national economy and Ghana’s position within the African economic space.
He stressed that beyond profitability, GCB remained committed to supporting Ghana’s development through investments, employment creation, human-resource development and other initiatives that could have a lasting impact on society.
It was against this background that the proposed establishment of a new banking training school emerged as an important component of the bank’s institutional development agenda.
The training facility is expected to provide opportunities for staff development and professional training while strengthening the bank’s capacity to deliver quality financial services to customers across the country.
Prof. Alabi’s visit also provided an opportunity for the GCB leadership to engage the Nungua Traditional Council on ways the bank could deepen its relationship with the community.
Welcoming the GCB delegation, Nungua Mantse and President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Oboade Notse King Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, described the visit as significant and said it offered an opportunity to renew and strengthen the long-standing relationship between GCB and the Nungua Traditional Council.
He commended the board, management and staff of GCB for the bank’s contribution to Ghana’s economic development, particularly in areas including agriculture, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, telecommunications, trade, the arts and job creation.
The Nungua Mantse, however, urged GCB to deepen its corporate social responsibility initiatives in Nungua, recalling the bank’s previous interventions in education, health and youth development.
He appealed to the bank to consider supporting the development of the Presbyterian School Park in Nungua into a modern astroturf football facility.
According to him, such a project would go beyond the construction of a football pitch, as it would provide young people with a safe recreational environment, promote sporting talent, encourage healthy lifestyles and support youth development.
He said the facility could also serve surrounding schools and become a centre for football training, youth development and community activities.
Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III further appealed to the GCB Board to consider establishing a Community-Based Planning and Services (CHIPS) compound in Nungua to improve access to basic health services.
He also drew attention to the persistent water challenges confronting the Nungua township and appealed to GCB to partner with the traditional council and other stakeholders to help find a sustainable solution to the crisis.
The Nungua Mantse said the traditional council was ready to work closely with GCB to identify projects that would have meaningful and lasting benefits for residents.
He expressed confidence that the visit would mark the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between GCB and the Nungua Traditional Council.
The meeting therefore underscored the importance of collaboration between Ghana’s financial institutions and traditional authorities in promoting economic development, human-capital development and community growth.
Both sides expressed their commitment to strengthening the partnership and ensuring that GCB’s growing presence in Nungua contributes not only to banking and professional training but also to the broader socio-economic development of the community.I can also make this more powerful and newspaper-style, with a stronger lead focusing specifically on “GCB to Build New Banking Training School in Nungua”.
Story by: Muhammed Faisel Mustapha/Felix Ernest Odamtten
