Asantehene Meets UBA Ghana’s First Ghanaian Directors
The King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has met with UBA Ghana’s first Ghanaian Managing Director, Bernard Appiah, and Executive Director, Daniel Sarpong.
The meeting took place on July 31, 2026, when a delegation from the financial institution paid a courtesy call on His Majesty at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to formally introduce the new leadership.
His Majesty was briefed on their historic appointment in January 2026 as the first Ghanaians to lead UBA Ghana since the Bank commenced operations in the country over 20 years ago.
The delegation noted that the milestone marks a significant chapter in the Bank’s local journey, reflecting growing confidence in Ghanaian leadership and expertise within the financial sector.
They also humbly requested His Majesty’s blessings and support to further the cause of the financial institution in the Ashanti Region and across the country.
They noted that His Majesty’s guidance would enable the Bank to deepen its impact through increased investment, job creation, and initiatives that support businesses and communities.
Smooth Operations
In his remarks, the Managing Director reported that the Bank’s operations have been running smoothly over the past months.
He attributed the positive performance to the relative stability of the Ghanaian currency, which he said has created a favourable environment for businesses and individuals.
According to him, the stable exchange rate has enabled many clients to comfortably meet their financial commitments, particularly in honouring their loan obligations to the Bank without undue pressure.
Confidence in Ghanaian Leadership
Welcoming the delegation, Otumfuo recalled UBA Ghana’s history of Nigerian Managing Directors since its inception and expressed confidence in the capabilities of the newly appointed Ghanaians.
“Nigerians have been at the helm of affairs at UBA Ghana, and now we finally have a Ghanaian,” he said.
“I have full confidence in your ability to succeed,” His Majesty added, while advising them to cultivate positive working relationships with all subordinates.
Building Trust
His Majesty emphasised the need for UBA Ghana to innovate in order to stay competitive in the country’s crowded banking sector.
The Asantehene expressed confidence that with the right measures and customer-focused policies, UBA Ghana can encourage Ghanaians to bring their savings into banks and contribute to national economic growth.
“The banking space is highly competitive, with many institutions targeting the same clientele. You must therefore design tailored products and strategies that will win the trust of the people and encourage them to save with you.
“A significant portion of money is still kept at home rather than in banks. With the right measures in place, you can persuade people to bring those funds into the formal banking system.”
Relevance to Growth
Otumfuo further touched on the relevance of financial institutions to economic growth.
“Banks used to depend on Treasury Bills for a clean balance sheet annually. I am glad that chapter has been closed because that was not banking. Banks have to be relevant to the economy and contribute to economic growth. Fashion some initiatives for that.”
Ghana-Focused Leadership
His Majesty urged the new leadership of UBA Ghana to be bold in protecting the interests of Ghanaians in all business decisions.
He advised them to push back against any policies or directives from the Bank’s leadership in Nigeria that do not serve the local market.
While acknowledging that banking is a profit-driven enterprise, the Asantehene stressed that profitability must not come at the expense of fairness and integrity.
“While the business is for profit, it is equally important that it is conducted the right way.”
Story by Hajara Fuseini
Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/
