The Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana, has ended 2025 with what it describes as significant institutional gains, setting the stage for an expanded regional footprint and deeper focus on ethics and skills development within the banking profession in 2026.
Speaking at the Institute’s annual Thanksgiving Service and Carols Night in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of CIB Ghana, Robert Dzato, said the past year had been marked by notable progress in education, professional standards and ethical practice across the banking industry. He said the Institute remained committed to its statutory mandate of promoting the study of banking and regulating the profession, while adapting to the changing needs of the financial sector.
“Last year has been particularly good. We launched a number of programmes to advance our educational mandate and pushed the ethics agenda strongly across the banking industry,” Mr Dzato said.
He noted that CIB Ghana had also deepened its sustainability and governance agenda through strategic collaborations with institutions such as the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Bank of Ghana. According to him, these partnerships were aimed at strengthening trust, competence and responsible conduct across the financial system.
Looking ahead, Mr Dzato said 2026 would be a defining year for the Institute, with plans to extend the reach of selected flagship programmes beyond Ghana’s borders. He revealed that CIB Ghana intends to begin regionalising some of its professional offerings across West Africa, starting with the Chartered Banker Executive Leadership Programme.
“Last year alone, we graduated about 57 professionals in key management positions across the banking sector, including the central bank. It is a strong solution that we must take to other markets,” he said, adding that the broader objective was to help address Africa’s human capital needs by building trusted financial professionals.
He said the Institute would also sustain its core programmes in 2026, particularly the Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers qualification, which remains its flagship professional pathway. New initiatives including Ethics 2.0, the Branch CEO programme and the Digital Academy are expected to gain momentum, with a strong emphasis on competence, character and conduct within the profession.
“These are critical if trust is to be deepened in the banking sector as we move into 2026,” Mr Dzato stated.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Governing Council, the President of CIB Ghana, Benjamin Amenumey, described 2025 as a year of transformation and growth for the Institute. He commended the Governing Council, management, staff, fellows and members of the Institute, as well as key stakeholders such as the Ghana Association of Banks and the Bank of Ghana, for their continued support.
“None of this would have been possible without the collective effort and commitment of our partners and stakeholders,” Mr Amenumey said.
He expressed confidence that the Institute would enter 2026 with renewed energy and a deeper commitment to integrity, service and excellence, stressing that strong values must remain central to professional practice. He also extended goodwill to members and stakeholders, expressing optimism that the new year would bring further progress and enhance the standing of CIB Ghana.
As part of the programme, the Institute honoured several long serving staff members for their dedication and contribution to its growth. The award recipients were Elorm Kobla Seshime, Rosemary Yaa Amponsah Offei, Margaret Adofo, Paul Gadzekpo and Daniel Aboagye, recognised for years of service, institutional loyalty and behind the scenes contributions.
The Thanksgiving Service and Carols Night brought together council members, management, staff, industry stakeholders and invited guests, serving as both a moment of reflection on the year’s achievements and an outlook on the Institute’s future role in shaping banking professionalism in Ghana and beyond.
The event featured an exhortation by Rev Kinsley Kwame Krah, who urged participants to recognise the value of human capital, relationships and integrity. Drawing on John 3:16, he likened financial investment to spiritual values, emphasising people as the greatest investment, a message that resonated with the Institute’s focus on professional development and ethical leadership.