Rwandan envoy, bankers association confer with Graphic

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB), Mr. John Awuah, has called for closer collaborations between the banking community and the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) to help restore confidence and sustain the gains chalked up in the sector. 

He said Graphic's solid reputation and decades of sustained credibility in the media and the marketing space made it the best partner to rely on in rebuilding confidence in a sector whose confidence had been shaken in recent times.

In that regard, Mr. Awuah said, the umbrella body of banks in the country was ready to partner the media giant to produce accurate and authentic information on the sector, deepen public education on banking and finance, and support growth in the member institutions and the sector as a whole.

Courtesy calls

The GAB CEO said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr. Ato Afful, yesterday.

The meeting was to introduce himself to the Graphic MD and its fraternity after taking over as CEO in July this year.

It was also to deepen collaborations between the banking community and the GCGL as part of efforts to restore confidence and sustain the gains chalked up in the sector.

Mr. Awuah, a former CEO of the Universal Merchant Bank (UMB), took over from the late Daniel K. Mensah, who passed in mid July.

Also calling on the MD of the GCGL last Wednesday was Rwanda’s first ever High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr. Aisa Kirabo.

While the Director of Marketing of GCGL, Mr. Franklin Sowa, was in both meetings, the Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr. Kobby Asmah, joined the MD for the meeting with the bankers, while the acting Editor of The Mirror, Ms. Kate Baaba Hudson, joined in for the meeting with the Rwandan Ambassador.

Commitment

For her part, Dr. Kirabo, whose visit was part of her tour of key institutions in the country to familiarise herself with their operations.

expressed commitment to strengthening the international unity and collective efforts between Ghana and Rwanda to hasten development in both countries.

Reflecting on the historical links, she said Ghana had a good standing relationship with Rwanda and had been supportive through its struggles since the genocide of 1994.

As a result, she said, it had become necessary for both countries to capitalise on their good relationship to negotiate a bilateral trade, particularly in areas of tourism and agribusiness.

Agribusiness, tourism

Dr. Kirabo said “in terms of agribusiness and tourism there was much we can both achieve if we decide to come together. Both sectors play major roles in the economies of both countries, and we can create a partnership to ensure an improvement in those areas”.

She also commended the GCGL for its vibrancy and the key role it had played over the years in the country’s development.

“Graphic is one of the key leaders our outfit decided to partner with to help the embassy achieve its mission in promoting Rwanda in Ghana and enhancing the relationship between both countries,” Dr. Kirabo said.

Capacity

The MD of GCGL, Mr. Afful expressed appreciation to Mr. Awuah for the visit and assured him of Graphic's preparedness to collaborate with the association to restore confidence in the banking sector.

He said the company had the relevenat brands, expertise and technical know-how to help bring back the trust that the sector needed.

Mr. Afful also underscored the need for the two to help enhance the capacity of the media to accurately report on the sector.

Rwanda’s success

The GCGL Managing Director said education and information were part of the key mandate of the company’s operations, and that the company was also mandated to promote trade, business and tourism.

Mr. Afful further commended Rwanda for being able to stitch the country together after the 1994 genocide.

“We keep citing Rwanda as an example when it comes to plastic waste. It is very impressive what you have done, and there is so much we can learn from you when it comes to stitching a nation together after a pandemic.

“We will be ready to partner with you to tap into what you have done with the country so that we can learn from you, and I think with your support and partnership we will be able to now do more across the borders of the country,” he added.