GCB Bank and the Ghana Police Service have reaffirmed their longstanding relationship and commitment to closer collaboration as the security needs of businesses and customers continue to evolve, particularly in the face of growing online scams, financial crime and other emerging security threats.
The commitment was made when GCB Bank’s Managing Director, Farihan Alhassan, led members of the Bank’s Executive Committee on a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, at the Police Headquarters in Accra.
The meeting brought together the leadership of two major national institutions whose work intersects in several important ways.
Discussions covered cybersecurity and financial crime, the protection of customers, the security of banking operations across the country, and the broader role of a safe and stable environment in supporting business confidence and economic growth.
Mr. Alhassan said the relationship between GCB Bank and the Ghana Police Service has become even more important as banking increasingly moves beyond the walls of the traditional branch.
“Security has always been fundamental to banking, but what that means today is changing rapidly. We still need to protect our branches, our people and our customers physically, but we are also operating in an environment where fraudsters can reach a customer through a phone call, a message or an online platform from virtually anywhere,” he said.
“This requires vigilance from banks, law enforcement and customers themselves. At GCB, we continue to invest significantly in the systems, people and customer education needed to protect our digital environment. But technology alone cannot address the problem. Tackling financial crime also requires strong collaboration with institutions such as the Ghana Police Service.”
GCB Bank has continued to strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities, including the operation of a 24-hour Security Operations Centre, alongside investments in monitoring, fraud prevention and customer education. These efforts have become increasingly important as more customers embrace digital financial services and criminals adopt more sophisticated methods to target individuals and businesses.
Beyond the digital environment, Mr. Alhassan recognised the longstanding role of the Ghana Police Service in supporting the security of the Bank’s physical operations across the country, including its branches, employees and customers, as well as other aspects of banking operations requiring Police support.
“For a Bank with a presence across Ghana, our relationship with the Police is not theoretical. We experience it every day in our branches and communities. Police officers support the security of our operations across the country, and many members of the Service are themselves valued customers of GCB. There is therefore a relationship between our institutions that goes well beyond this visit,” he said.
The relationship has also seen GCB Bank support the Ghana Police Service over the years in areas that strengthen the Service and its ability to deliver on its mandate.
“We value this relationship deeply. The Police Service plays an indispensable role in creating the stability that allows people to live their lives, businesses to operate and investment to take place. As a Ghanaian institution with a similarly national footprint, GCB will continue to support the Service where we can and work together in areas where our responsibilities intersect,” Mr. Alhassan added.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, welcomed the GCB Bank delegation and acknowledged the longstanding relationship between the two institutions.
The IGP reaffirmed the commitment of the Ghana Police Service to protecting lives and property and to strengthening its capacity to respond to both traditional and emerging forms of crime.
The discussions recognised that the rapid growth of digital financial services has brought considerable convenience and opportunity but has also changed the nature of some threats facing customers and financial institutions. Both institutions underscored the importance of public awareness, information sharing and closer cooperation in combating online scams, fraud and other technology enabled crimes.
The engagement also touched on the security of GCB Bank’s nationwide operations and the broader importance of maintaining an environment in which individuals, businesses and institutions can operate with confidence.
GCB Bank and the Ghana Police Service expressed their commitment to building on their longstanding relationship, with continued engagement around customer and public safety, financial crime prevention, cybersecurity awareness, physical security and other areas of mutual interest.
The GCB Bank delegation was led by Managing Director Farihan Alhassan and included Abdulsalam Alhassan, Executive Director, Wholesale and Investment Banking; Socrates Afram, Chief Finance Officer; Abraham Ferguson, Chief of Staff; Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo, Chief Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience Officer; and Rashida Gbadamosi, Head of Public Sector.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, was joined by members of the Police Management Board (POMAB): COP Dr. Sayibu Pabi Gariba, Director-General, NAPD; COP Michael Nketia Frempong, Director-General, Finance; COP Joseph Oklu Gyamera, Director-General, Legal and Prosecutions; COP Peter Baba Atiniak, Director-General, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General, Criminal Investigations Department; COP Frederick Kofi Blagodzie, Director-General, Human Resource Development; COP Darko Offei Lomotey, Director-General, Police Professional Standards Bureau; COP Barnabas Nambont Nasumong, Director-General, Administration; DCOP Yaw Agyeman Osei-Assibey, Director-General, Technical; DCOP Cosmos Alan Anyan, Director-General, ICT; DCOP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director-General, Public Affairs; ACP Kudjo Aboagye, Chief Staff Officer; ACP Solomon K. Korli, Executive Secretary; and ACP Abdulai Amadu Alichewu, Deputy Chief Staff Officer.
