News
GCB Bank PLC headlines golf tournament as part of 70th Anniversary celebrations
GCB Bank PLC, one of Ghana’s largest and leading banks, partnered UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce for the organisation of a golf tournament at the Achimota Golf Club, as part of its 70th Anniversary celebrations.
Established in 1953 as the Bank of Gold Coast to provide banking services to Ghanaians, GCB Bank PLC, at 70 years old, is widely recognised as an elite banking institution providing unrivalled banking solutions to Ghanaians in all 16 regions through 186 networked branches and 15 agencies.
Emmanuel Odartey Lamptey, GCB Bank’s Deputy Managing Director of Operations remarked that there are other activities such as health walks and screening, thought leadership seminars, tree planting and campus activations to mark its 70th Anniversary celebrations.
The golf tournament was its latest event, organised to meet and network with clients and key stakeholders. According to Mr. Lamptey, golf was chosen because of shared qualities between the game and the Bank.
“The game of golf is about resilience and for the past 7 decades, GCB has demonstrated remarkable resilience.
We have been diligently providing banking services through our extensive network of 186 branches and over 340 ATMs across the country. This is further bolstered by our digital channels, all aimed at deepening financial inclusion in Ghana. For our SME businesses and our corporate clients, we have consistently offered a wide range of financial solutions including loan facilities, cash management facilities foreign exchange support, and I must say that what truly differentiates GCB Bank is our commitment to the personal touch. When you interact with us, the experience you get is what sets us apart from the competition”, he remarked.
Going forward, Mr. Lamptey assured the Bank’s clients of the provision of continued exceptional service.
“Our strength over the years has been the personal experience. Anytime our customers interact with us, either through sales or service interactions, it’s the personal touch that we bring to the table. Going forward, our customers can expect more of that. We will deepen our relationship with our customers, seek to proactively understand their needs and provide the right solutions that helps them meet their objectives”.
Adjoba Kyiamah, the Executive Director of the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC), said UKGCC was pleased to partner GCB in the organisation of the event.
“At the UKGCC, we offer a platform for companies to network and build connections for business growth and success. Sports, and especially golf, which brings people together, is the ideal platform to facilitate this endeavour.
We were, therefore, happy to do this together with GCB Bank PLC, a platinum member of the UKGCC, and support the celebration of a proud Ghanaian institution”, she said.
The tournament, which was supported by Enterprise Group LTD., Voltic (GH) LTD., and So Fraiche Media, concluded with an award ceremony for winners in the men’s and women’s groups, seniors’ division, and auxiliary prizes for Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin (Hole 18).
News
NPP condems arrest of Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned the arrest and detention of Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah by operatives of the National Security.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary, Justin Kodua noted that “This unlawful action by the marauding operatives of the National Security is the latest installment of the ongoing series of state-sponsored attacks on the media by the NDC government, in their desperate attempt to silence the media and curtail press freedom.”
According to the him, “The Party condemns in no uncertain terms this state-sponsored lawlessness and commends the many well-meaning Ghanaians who spoke loudly against this shameful conduct by the National Security. We also commend the young people and the team of lawyers who stormed the National Security Secretariat this evening to see to the release of the abducted journalist.”
“The NPP wishes to remind President Mahama and his government that the Ghana that was bequeathed to them on January 7, 2025, was a free country. It was the bastion of democracy, underpinned not only by the existence of functioning democratic institutions but also by our unflinching commitment to upholding press freedom as enshrined in Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution,” they added.
Read the full statement below
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 19, 2025
*NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY CONDEMNS THE UNLAWFUL ARREST OF VETERAN JOURNALIST, OKATAKYIE AFRIFA MENSAH BY NATIONAL SECURITY OPERATIVES*
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) condemns the unlawful arrest and detention by operatives of the National Security, of Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah, a veteran journalist, who has been critical of the John Mahama administration.
This unlawful action by the marauding operatives of the National Security is the latest installment of the ongoing series of state-sponsored attacks on the media by the NDC government, in their desperate attempt to silence the media and curtail press freedom.
The Party condemns in no uncertain terms this state-sponsored lawlessness and commends the many well-meaning Ghanaians who spoke loudly against this shameful conduct by the National Security. We also commend the young people and the team of lawyers who stormed the National Security Secretariat this evening to see to the release of the abducted journalist.
The NPP wishes to remind President Mahama and his government that the Ghana that was bequeathed to them on January 7, 2025, was a free country. It was the bastion of democracy, underpinned not only by the existence of functioning democratic institutions but also by our unflinching commitment to upholding press freedom as enshrined in Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution.
In line with this commitment, the country also went through the painstaking process of repealing the Criminal and Seditious Libel Law in 2001, a process that was spearheaded by the immediate past President, H.E Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, who was then the Attorney General of the Republic.
It is therefore completely repugnant and unacceptable for the John Mahama administration to be using State Security to intimidate political opponents as well as media personnel in a bid to silence all critical voices This, in fact, is an egregious affront to our democratic and constitutional tenets.
We call on the Ghana Journalist Association, the Media Foundation of West Africa, Civil Society Organizations, and all stakeholders to join us in demanding an immediate cessation of this tyranny and growing culture of state-sponsored attacks on the media.
Enough is enough.
…Signed…
JUSTIN KODUA FRIMPONG
GENERAL SECRETARY
News
We have built enough buffers to pay all DDEP obligations – Finance Minister Ato Forson
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has assured banks that the government has built sufficient financial buffers to meet all Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) obligations this year.
Speaking at a high-level meeting with over 22 Managing Directors of banks, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and restoring confidence in the financial sector.
“We do not intend to default,” Dr. Forson declared.
“All outstanding holdouts have been paid, and we have put in place the necessary buffers to ensure that every single DDEP obligation for this year will be met.”
The Minister explained that these buffers were created through fiscal discipline, strategic investment cuts, and prudent resource allocation.
As part of this approach, the government has reset goods and services expenditure to 2023 levels and is working to achieve a primary surplus of 1.5% to sustain economic stability.
He also announced plans to submit a fiscal responsibility rule to Parliament, which will set a debt ceiling that the Ministry of Finance cannot exceed.
This measure aims to prevent excessive borrowing and reinforce financial discipline.
Beyond ensuring timely DDEP payments, Dr Forson revealed that the government is taking deliberate steps to reduce reliance on the Treasury bill market.
By improving coordination between fiscal and monetary policies, the government aims to stabilize interest rates and ease liquidity pressures on the banking sector.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
