Bank of Africa Ghana (BOA-Ghana), a member of the Bank of Africa BMCE Group, has marked the final days of Ramadan 2026 by hosting a special Iftar gathering for Muslim clients and community members in Accra and paying a courtesy visit to the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, at his residence in Fadama, where management presented donations to support his annual assistance to the needy during the holy month.
The dual engagement, a donation visit to the Chief Imam followed by a client-facing Iftar dinner, forms part of BOA-Ghana’s annual Ramadan tradition and comes as the Muslim community marks the close of 30 days of fasting ahead of Eid al-Fitr on Friday, March 20.
A Message of Solidarity
Managing Director of BOA-Ghana, Abderrahmane Belbachir, led management and staff to the Chief Imam’s Fadama residence, where the bank donated an undisclosed sum of money and a package of assorted food items, including bags of rice, cooking oil, beverages, and other provisions, to support Sheikh Sharubutu’s customary outreach to low-income Muslim households during the Ramadan and Eid period.
Belbachir said the gesture reflects the bank’s broader commitment to communities across the markets where it operates. “We believe in the spirit of giving and always seek to support our clients and the communities in which we operate,” he said. “Our corporate social responsibility initiatives target the marginalised and the needy, alongside programmes such as this for the Muslim community and others across the country.”
He emphasised that the values central to Ramadan, including charity, reflection, and renewal, align closely with BOA-Ghana’s own principles of service and community development.
Spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, acknowledged the bank’s consistent support, noting that BOA-Ghana has over the years demonstrated a sustained commitment to the Muslim community and that the office of the Chief Imam greatly appreciates the relationship. He highlighted generosity as a defining virtue in Islam, recalling the Prophet Mohammed’s own example as a leader known for giving to others.
The Chief Imam commended the bank for its continued generosity, noting that acts of charity are highly valued and rewarded, and offered prayers for the bank’s continued growth and prosperity. He also used the occasion to call for peace and unity across religious lines, describing such values as essential to Ghana’s socio-economic development.
Iftar With Clients and Dignitaries
The high-profile Iftar dinner was attended by ambassadors and dignitaries from Islamic-majority countries in Africa and the Middle East, including the Ambassador of Morocco to Ghana, Ouaadil Imane, who urged attendees to remember those unable to celebrate the season as generously. “Let us remember to extend a helping hand to those in need,” she said, wishing all present a blessed Ramadan filled with peace, joy, and spiritual growth.
Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at BOA-Ghana, Leila Pentsil, confirmed that similar donation exercises were conducted simultaneously at regional offices where the bank operates, underscoring the national reach of the initiative rather than limiting it to the capital.
A Platform for Business Engagement
Beyond its community and religious significance, Belbachir used the occasion to reaffirm the bank’s strategic focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those engaged in cross-border trade. BOA-Ghana, which operates across approximately 18 African countries as part of the Bank of Africa BMCE Group, positions itself as a gateway for Ghanaian businesses seeking to access the broader West African and continental market.
“We are a universal bank with tailored products for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as for the Muslim community,” he said. “We encourage businesses to partner with us for financial solutions that support their growth locally and across borders.”
Management also highlighted the bank’s focus on Zongo communities, citing SME operators within those areas as a priority segment for its financial inclusion drive going into the second half of 2026.
