New MD of GCB Bank Pledges Continued Support for University of Ghana Projects
In the interest of continuity, the newly appointed Managing Director of GCB Bank, Mr. Farihan Alhassan, has pledged the Bank’s continued support for the University of Ghana’s key initiatives, including student development, infrastructure projects and renewable energy investments.
He made this commitment during a visit by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo and her delegation to the Bank’s Head Office on Thursday, February 13.
Welcoming the Vice-Chancellor and her team, Mr. Alhassan expressed his appreciation for the visit and underscored GCB Bank’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the University. He mentioned that the Bank has always played a crucial role in Ghana’s development and remains dedicated to supporting education as a key driver of national progress.
“We are proud of our continued collaboration with the University of Ghana. Education is at the heart of development and we are committed to ensuring that students have the opportunities they need to build a strong future,” Mr. Alhassan stated.
He noted that he had been briefed on the Bank’s ongoing support for the University, including contributions to the construction of a new paediatric block at the University Hospital, sponsorship of LED advertisement screens on campus and previous investments such as the GCB Bank Lecture Hall. He further assured the Vice-Chancellor that these commitments would be fulfilled and expressed the Bank’s willingness to explore new initiatives.
One key area of discussion was student development, with Mr. Alhassan reaffirming the Bank’s readiness to provide periodic internship opportunities for UG students. He emphasised the importance of bridging academia and industry through practical training and mentorship programmes.
Additionally, the MD announced that GCB Bank is considering the introduction of purpose-driven Masters programmes to upskill its staff, ensuring that they remain competitive in an evolving financial landscape. He also revealed plans to explore renewable energy investments, particularly in solar power, as part of the Bank’s sustainability efforts. Another area of interest was student accommodation, where the Bank is looking to support efforts to solve the University’s housing deficit.
“The contentment with our job is not just about the revenue we generate for our shareholders, but the impact we make in the lives of Ghanaians. We are looking at practical ways to support student accommodation and we hope to contribute by building five 2,000-bed facilities,” he added.
Responding to the MD’s commitments, Prof. Amfo first congratulated Mr. Alhassan on his appointment and commended GCB Bank for its support for the University over the years. She highlighted UG’s wealth of human resources across various departments, including the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) and the Department of Economics as areas the Bank could leverage for research and advisory services.
Prof. Amfo also welcomed the Bank’s interest in internship opportunities and announced that UG operates a structured internship policy that allows institutions such as GCB Bank to train students while they are still in school. She further expressed enthusiasm for the Bank’s renewable energy ambitions, noting that UG is also prioritising research into renewable energy solutions.
Regarding student accommodation, she pointed out that the University had recently commissioned the Diamond Jubilee Hall and welcomed any future support from GCB Bank in developing more affordable housing for students.
Adding his voice to the conversations, the Deputy Managing Director (Operations) of GCB Bank Ltd, Mr. Emmanuel Odartey Lamptey, indicated that UG has been a strategic partner and the Bank will continue to explore avenues for business for shared growth.
On her part, the Head of Corporate Affairs for the Bank, Mrs. Patricia Kwasi-Kumah, who also spoke during the meeting, provided updates on the ongoing renovation works at the University of Ghana Medical School, noting that such projects are key to enhancing the University’s capacity for quality healthcare training. She touched on the importance of continued collaboration with GCB Bank in the area of corporate social responsibility.
In a direct response to the GCB MD’s interest in agribusiness suggestions, the Director of Finance at UG, Mr. Benjamin Owusu Addo, highlighted the availability of university lands designated for commercial farming and invited the Bank to explore investment opportunities that could contribute to economic and agricultural development.
During the meeting, Prof. Gordon Abekah-Nkrumah, Chair of the Hospital Management Committee, provided updates on progress made with the construction of the paediatric block. He said that the site for the block had been handed over to the contractor for work to begin. He assured that the University remains committed to fulfilling its part of the agreement and looked forward to seeing the project successfully completed.
Discussions also covered the possibility of UG faculty members assisting in training and recruitment of GCB Bank staff, as well as mentorship opportunities where senior Bank executives could engage with students. Both parties agreed to explore a joint academic programme that aligns with the Bank’s capacity-building agenda.
The visit concluded with a reaffirmation of the mutual commitment between GCB Bank and the University of Ghana, signaling a strengthened partnership focused on impactful education, research and development initiatives.
Present at the meeting were UG’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Elizier Taiba Ameyaw-Buronyah and senior management team members of GCB Bank.