The Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana has inducted and graduated 186 professionals at its 17th Induction and Graduation Ceremony, reinforcing its drive to promote ethical leadership, professionalism and sustainable banking practices within Ghana’s financial sector.
The ceremony, held at the Institute’s auditorium in Accra on December 17, 2025, brought together senior government officials, regulators, industry leaders, academics, families and members of the banking community under the theme, “Building Future-Ready Banks: Ethical Leadership, Sustainable Finance and Currency Stability amid Disruption”.
With the induction of the 2025 cohort, CIB Ghana has produced a total of 1,313 chartered bankers over the past six years, significantly expanding the pool of trusted professionals serving the country’s banking and finance ecosystem.
Addressing the inductees and graduates, the President of CIB Ghana, Mr Benjamin Amenumey, FCIB, said the chartered banker qualification represents a deeper responsibility beyond academic and professional achievement. “This qualification is a call to uphold the highest standards of honesty and integrity in your institutions and in your dealings with customers and society,” he said, in a speech read on his behalf by the Vice President of the Institute, Mr Samuel Manu Asiama, FCIB.
Mr Amenumey reminded members of the Institute’s statutory mandate, stating, “As an Institute established under Act 991, our mandate is clear: to promote the study of banking and to regulate the practice of the banking profession in Ghana.”
He said CIB Ghana continues to strengthen professional competence and ethical conduct through targeted programmes, including the mandatory Ethics Certification Programme, the Chartered Banker for Executive Leadership programme and the ESG Certification Programme delivered in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency and the International Finance Corporation. He added that new initiatives such as the Digital Banking Academy and the Branch CEO Programme are equipping bankers with the competence, character and conduct required in an evolving financial landscape.
The keynote address was delivered by the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Ghana Limited, Mr Thomas Atta John, who underscored the far-reaching social consequences of banking decisions. He described banking as one of the most risky professions, not because of physical danger, but because of its silent human impact. “When banking decisions go wrong, people lose access to healthcare, children drop out of school and livelihoods are destroyed,” he said. “These consequences may not make headlines, but they are real. That is why society needs trusted professionals in banking.”
Mr Atta John stressed that integrity remains a non-negotiable asset, noting that while balance sheets can be repaired, reputational damage arising from ethical failure is often permanent. He urged chartered bankers to commit to lifelong learning and continuous professional development, warning that experience without updated skills poses growing risks in a disrupted financial system.
The 2025 ceremony also highlighted growing inclusiveness within the profession, with women accounting for 55 percent of the inductees and graduates. CIB Ghana said the trend reflects progress towards a more sustainable and inclusive banking sector. The cohort also spanned a wide age range, with the youngest graduate aged 23 and the oldest inductee aged 59, reinforcing the Institute’s position that professional development remains open to both emerging and seasoned practitioners.
Outstanding performance and perseverance were recognised during the ceremony. Ms Eyram Amenyo Klutse, a Relationship Manager at First National Bank, emerged as the Overall Best Inductee, while Ms Rosemary Quansah of Access Bank was recognised as the youngest graduate. Ms Klutse described the programme as demanding but rewarding, saying it deepened her understanding of banking and reinforced the importance of ethics and professionalism. Ms Quansah encouraged young people to begin professional qualifications early and to persist despite challenges.
The Chief Executive Officer of CIB Ghana, Mr Robert Dzato, expressed appreciation to stakeholders and partners, including the Bank of Ghana, the Ghana Association of Banks, the Environmental Protection Agency, the International Finance Corporation, and the Ministries of Education and Finance, for their continued collaboration. “Banking is not just about numbers and balance sheets,” he said. “It is about trust, responsibility and decisions that shape lives and communities. Our role as an Institute is to ensure that Ghana’s banking sector is served by professionals who are competent, ethical and future-ready.”
He urged the newly inducted chartered bankers to carry their designation with pride, humility and a strong sense of responsibility, noting that their conduct would shape public confidence in the financial system.
CIB Ghana is the statutory professional body established under the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana Act, 2019, to promote the study of banking and regulate the practice of the profession. Since its establishment in 1963, the Institute has played a central role in developing trusted professionals for Ghana’s financial sector, with a strong emphasis on ethics, professionalism and leadership.