The Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana (CIB Ghana) is targeting cyber fraud, weak credit management and professional misconduct as its new Governing Council seeks to strengthen standards across the banking industry.
The council, led by Dr. Mrs. Ellen Ohene-Afoakwa, was sworn into office by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu in Accra, with a mandate to improve professional competence, ethical conduct and the sector’s readiness for emerging digital risks.
The priorities come as banks face growing threats from digital banking fraud and artificial intelligence-enabled scams, alongside persistent concerns about non-performing loans and corporate governance.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Iddrisu called on the council to use its statutory mandate under the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana Act, 2019 (Act 991), to strengthen professional practice and help the industry respond to new risks.
“We expect that you will respond to the new emerging challenge of artificial intelligence and how that can impact on fraud associated with banking in Ghana,” he said.
He also stressed the need for sound credit management, regulatory compliance and ethical leadership, arguing that the banking sector’s improved resilience must be supported by professional integrity and effective governance.
Professional standards face a digital test
Dr. Ohene-Afoakwa said the council would prioritise professional standards, digital finance capabilities, ethical leadership and the development of future banking professionals.
She said cybersecurity, digital fraud and non-performing loans were consistent with the council’s agenda, adding that CIB Ghana had incorporated cybersecurity, virtual assets, data analytics and green finance into its curriculum to prepare bankers for changes in the financial sector.
The council’s effectiveness, she said, should ultimately be reflected in fewer fraud cases, more ethical banking practices and a workforce capable of making sound lending decisions.
Reducing bad loans is particularly important because weak credit assessment and loan recovery can erode banks’ earnings, constrain lending and undermine confidence in the financial system.
The council is also expected to strengthen continuing professional development, as the institute seeks to ensure that bankers maintain the skills required to operate in a rapidly changing industry.
CIB Ghana Chief Executive Officer Robert Dzato said membership would increasingly depend on completing a minimum number of annual professional development credit hours, rather than merely paying subscriptions.
“To be a member in the institute going forward, it’s not just paying subscription, but you must take a certain minimum number of credit hours in a year to continue to maintain that status as a chartered banker,” he said.
The institute is also expanding its focus beyond technical banking knowledge to include leadership, digital skills and other capabilities needed by professionals working in modern financial services.
Financial literacy enters the policy discussion
The new council’s responsibilities extend beyond banks to the wider financial system and public understanding of financial services.
Mr. Iddrisu asked CIB Ghana to advise the Ministry of Education on the feasibility of introducing financial literacy into the national curriculum and identifying the appropriate level at which it should begin.
He also highlighted the role of community banks in expanding financial inclusion and promoting savings, particularly in rural areas.
The proposal comes as policymakers seek to improve people’s ability to manage money, make informed financial decisions and use formal financial services responsibly.
CIB Ghana is already supporting banking and ethics programmes at universities and working to promote financial literacy in secondary schools.
Conference to examine trust and technology
The council’s priorities will feature at CIB Ghana’s 30th National Banking and Ethics Conference, scheduled for November 9 and 10, 2026, under the theme “Trust, Technology and Transformation.”
The conference is expected to examine digital assets, artificial intelligence, fraud prevention, professional ethics and public trust, with participation expected from the Bank of Ghana Governor and the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations.
The newly sworn-in council includes representatives from the Ghana Association of Banks, the Bank of Ghana, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education, alongside institute leadership.
Its challenge will be to translate the stated priorities into measurable improvements in professional conduct, fraud prevention, credit quality and public confidence in Ghana’s banking industry.
