Ghana’s push to rebuild trust and strengthen human capital in the banking sector gained momentum as the University of Ghana Business School emerged winner of the second National Banking and Ethics Challenge (NBEC 2.0), organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB) Ghana.
The University of Ghana secured 35 points in the grand finale, ahead of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (29.5 points) and the University for Development Studies (26.5 points), in a competition that brought together academia and industry in a test of technical knowledge and ethical judgment.
Expanding Talent Development Platform
The 2026 edition marked a significant scale-up of the initiative, with participation more than doubling to 12 universities from five in the inaugural 2025 competition. Institutions including KNUST, UCC, UEW, Central University and Academic City University College reflected a broad national spread, underscoring growing industry interest in structured talent development.
CIB Ghana President Benjamin Amenumey described the challenge as a strategic intervention rather than a purely academic exercise.
“The future of banking depends on professionals who are ethically grounded, intellectually sharp, and prepared for a global landscape that never stands still,” he said.
Industry Linkages and Incentives
Beyond competition, the event delivered direct industry benefits. GCB Bank committed to offering internship placements to all contestants, providing a pipeline into the banking sector.
CIB Ghana also introduced financial incentives to accelerate professional certification, including a 100% registration fee waiver for contestants pursuing Chartered Banker status, and a 50% waiver for student participants in attendance.
A mentorship clinic held alongside the event offered career guidance, reinforcing the programme’s focus on employability and professional readiness.
Rebuilding Trust as Core Objective
CIB Ghana Chief Executive Officer Robert Dzato positioned the challenge within the broader context of sector reform, particularly following reputational setbacks linked to the 2017–2018 banking sector clean-up and rising fraud cases.
“Trust is the currency in banking. Cash is the raw material, but the true currency is trust,” he said, stressing that ethical conduct is central to restoring confidence in the financial system.
He outlined four strategic objectives behind NBEC: developing trusted professionals, advancing financial literacy in line with global education goals, broadening public understanding of banking, and re-professionalising the sector.
Bridging Knowledge and Market Needs
The competition tested participants across a wide range of practical and emerging banking topics, including digital finance, cybersecurity, fraud prevention, ESG principles, and estate account management.
Organisers said the design ensures that knowledge extends beyond contestants to the broader audience, positioning the challenge as both a talent incubator and a public education platform.
Scaling the Model
CIB Ghana plans to institutionalise the competition as an annual event, with NBEC 3.0 expected to introduce a zonal structure to widen participation across northern and southern Ghana.
Future editions will also incorporate emerging regulatory and market themes such as non-performing loans and digital assets, reflecting the evolving demands on banking professionals.
“We are not limiting ourselves to Ghana. Our vision is to be the most relevant institute for professional banking education in Africa,” Dzato said.
Strategic Implications
The expansion of NBEC highlights a growing alignment between academia and industry in developing a workforce capable of supporting Ghana’s financial sector growth.
As banks navigate digital transformation, regulatory tightening and rising fraud risks, initiatives that combine technical training with ethical grounding are increasingly seen as critical to sustaining sector stability and long-term competitiveness.
