Standard Bank boss confident in Ghana

The Chief Executive Officer of Standard Bank Africa, parent company of Stanbic Bank Ghana, Mr. Craig Bond, has described his three-day working visit to Ghana as "very successful and highly insightful" trip.

Craig Bond observed that "Ghana has remarkably high potential for growth and is well-placed to become the economic gateway to West Africa".

He commended the Government and the People of Ghana for the progress they have made in "positioning Ghana as a leading economy in West Africa through strong political leadership and stable economic policies."

Significantly, he pledged Standard Bank's commitment to increase its investment in the country through the injection of significant new capital in order to grow its banking presence.

This would either be through growing its existing banking operation in Ghana, Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited, or through acquisition or a combination of both.

A statement issued in Accra by the Bank said the Standard Bank Africa CEO met with the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, and commenced discussions with the Board and Executive Management of the Agricultural Development Bank ("ADB").

These meetings were in line with permission granted by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for Standard Bank to engage and dialogue with various stakeholders of ADB over the Bank's declared interest in partnering with the ADB in the discharge of its Agricultural financing mandate and other banking services.

Commenting on the proposed strategic partnership, Craig Bond intimated that the partnership being sought would help "create a West African banking powerhouse and reinvigorate agricultural financing in the country through a combination of Standard Bank's strong capital base, its global agriculture finance best practices, with ADB's existing local agricultural expertise and knowledge".

Mr. Craig Bond also in an interaction with the media stressed the fact that Standard Bank is engaging the stakeholders of ADB with a firm commitment to uphold the agricultural charter of ADB, to refurbish and expand the branch network, provide customers with a wider range of products and services and most importantly to provide staff of ADB an opportunity to work for an international banking group committed to growing ADB, that will provide access to world class banking practices and training resulting in greater career opportunities within ADB as well as internationally.

With Standard Bank Group as a co-sponsor of CAN 2008 in Ghana, Craig Bond also visited the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium and met with leading sports officials and the Local Organising Committee, and expressed his satisfaction at the progress and pace of work at the game's main venue.

He also indicated Standard Bank's intention to continue with its support for sports development in Ghana.

Craig expressed his gratitude for the warm reception accorded his team which included Kevin Wingfield, Director Standard Bank Africa and Greg Brackenridge, Managing Director, Standard Bank West Africa.

"I left Ghana truly enchanted, it has great infrastructure, friendly, open and proud people, fantastic levels of democratic debate in the media, a stable government, good fiscal disciplines and wonderful food".