THE Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB) Ghana have pledged to strengthen collaboration to improve ethics and professionalism in the banking sector as part of efforts to curb fraud, protect customers and reinforce confidence in the financial system.
The commitment was made when the Governing Council of CIB Ghana paid a courtesy call on the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, at the central bank's headquarters in Accra on July 31, 2026.
The meeting also enabled the institute to introduce its new leadership and discuss areas of cooperation aimed at supporting banking sector reforms, improving professional standards and preparing the industry for emerging technological developments.
The discussions centred on ethics and professionalism, customer protection, cybersecurity, fraud prevention, digital assets, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Both institutions also explored measures to strengthen the banking workforce and improve resilience against emerging risks.
The Governing Council briefed the Governor on a number of initiatives being pursued by the institute, including the Branch CEO Programme, the Chartered Banker for Executive Leadership (CBEL) Programme, industry-wide ethics certification, fraud awareness campaigns and banking research.
The institute's incoming President, Dr Ellen Ohene-Afoakwa, also outlined plans to rebuild the Bankers' House and prepare Ghana to host the 2028 World Conference of Banking Institutes (WCBI) in Accra.
Sector reforms
The Governor commended the institute for supporting initiatives by the Bank of Ghana, the Ghana Association of Banks and other industry stakeholders to tackle fraud and other threats facing the financial sector.
He also outlined measures being implemented by the central bank to strengthen verification processes within the banking industry and ensure the successful implementation of community banking reforms.
He urged the institute to expand its ethics and capacity-building programmes to community banks and the wider financial services sector.
"The banking industry depends on competence, integrity and continuous professional development. We are committed to working closely with CIB Ghana to strengthen ethical standards, improve public confidence and ensure the sector is prepared for future risks," he said.
Dr Ohene-Afoakwa said the institute would continue to support the industry's transformation agenda through professional education and ethical leadership.
"We remain focused on developing banking professionals with the skills and values the industry requires. Our programmes are designed to strengthen governance, reduce fraud risks and support sustainable growth across Ghana's financial sector," she said.