Absa Bank, GCTU to champion ethical business practices across Africa
Director of Compliance at Absa Bank Ghana LTD, Judith Haizel, has stressed the importance of promoting ethics, integrity and transparency within sustainable businesses across Africa.
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She explained that in today's rapidly evolving business landscape, complying with rules and regulations is not enough. Therefore, it is necessary for businesses to create an environment where doing the right thing is embedded in the corporate culture.
She said this when Absa Bank Ghana partnered with the Ghana Communications Technology University (GCTU) to host the Business Ethics Network (BEN) Africa conference as part of efforts to promote ethical business practices across the African continent.
Scheduled for November 7-8 in Accra, this year's conference aims to address the growing challenges to ethical conduct in African businesses.
Originally established at the Nelson Mandela University Business School in South Africa, the BEN Africa Conference serves as a platform for leaders, businesses and stakeholders from various sectors to engage in meaningful dialogue about ethical decision-making in the business world.
Ms Haizel, speaking at the launch, explained that the partnership also includes the Absa BEN-Africa Supplier Day, a unique initiative aimed at empowering small businesses.
“During this event, SMEs will be introduced to the Ethically Aware Supplier Induction Programme, which equips executive management teams with tools to promote ethics within their organisations,” she said.
The programme, developed by The Ethics Institute, accredits businesses as “Ethically Aware” upon completion,” she added.
Addressing pressing issues
The Dean of GCTU Business School, Prof. George Ampong, highlighted the growing recognition among African business associations of the need for business schools to address pressing issues like climate change and sustainability.
He said hosting the conference underscores GCTU’s leadership in critical areas such as ICT and cybersecurity, which are integral to modern business operations.
He explained that the conference will serve as a bridge between academia and industry, facilitating the exchange of perspectives on aligning business practices with global development goals, including the United Nation’s (UN) Agenda 2030.
“Additionally, the African Union (AU) has expanded its sustainability focus to include issues like peace, justice, rule of law and poverty, which are vital for the continent’s future.
Business ethics, particularly in supply chains and the hospitality industry, will also be key themes, highlighting the importance of ethical practices across various sectors,” Prof. Ampong said.
