GCB Bank PLC has announced the appointment of Aurelia Baaba Ofori Odame as Head of Afro-Asia Trade and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), a new executive role designed to strengthen the Bank’s strategic focus on cross-regional trade and partnerships.
The appointment comes at a time when the Bank is accelerating efforts to deepen trade ties between Africa and Asia while enhancing collaboration with state-owned enterprises to unlock new growth opportunities.
In her role, Ms Ofori Odame will be responsible for developing and executing GCB’s Afro-Asia trade and SOE engagement strategy, positioning the Bank as a bridge between emerging markets and facilitating access to capital, trade flows and new markets.
“At GCB we acknowledge our position as an indigenous bank passionate about the growth of Ghanaian businesses and development of the economy,” said GCB Managing Director, Farihan Alhassan. “Aurelia’s mandate therefore is to deliver a cohesive strategy that enhances the Bank’s offerings to SOEs and trade clients, encompassing bespoke financial solutions, sustainable trade finance, and advisory services to take advantage of the opportunities in Africa and Asia for national growth.”
GCB described the Africa-Asia trade corridor as a rapidly expanding space, fuelled by investment in infrastructure, digital transformation, and private-public collaboration. It noted that SOEs continue to play a crucial role in national development, particularly in areas such as agriculture, health, energy, transport, education, and telecommunications.
The Bank said Aurelia’s extensive background in regional trade and cross-border finance will be key in shaping its future strategy. She previously worked at Stanbic Bank, where she led the Africa-China Trade Banking unit and established its first dedicated Trade Hub for Africa-China and intra-Africa trade. Under her leadership, the franchise achieved more than 100 percent year-on-year balance sheet growth and facilitated export inflows exceeding US$350 million.
Her career spans more than 17 years, including senior roles in retail, commercial, and corporate banking at Stanbic and the United Bank for Africa (UBA). She has specialised in trade finance, relationship management, and strategic business development.
GCB said the appointment reaffirms its commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable trade, creating market access for businesses, funding infrastructure and industrial transformation, and strengthening partnerships with government-linked entities.
The Bank added that Ms Ofori Odame’s expertise and regional knowledge would be “instrumental in advancing GCB’s ambition to connect Africa and Asia through finance, trade, and shared opportunity.”
