BoG boss highlights achievements of Nat’l Banking College; touches on efforts to maintain high standard of professionalism

Maxwell Opoku-Afari has said that the Governing Council of the National Banking College (NBC), together with the various management teams, has selflessly managed affairs at the College in line with the best practices and ensured its continued growth and relevance in the industry.

In each passing year, he said, the institution has navigated through various economic landscapes and regional and global transformations to become stronger and more impactful.

Indeed, he added, the continued success of NBC attests to its resilience and dedication.

“More recently, issues that emerged from the banking sector clean up exercise necessitated a review of NBC’s strategies to actualise its vision of becoming a world-class institution, delivering effective training in banking and finance, and thus playing a leading role in thecapacity building of employees in the financial sector,” he said in a statement he presented on behalf of the Governor of the BoG, Dr Ernest Addison at the 30th anniversary celebration of the NBC last week.

In the context of recent developments in global economics and then the Ghanaianbanking industry, Dr Opoku-Afari further stated, the Governing Council, approved a five-year strategic roadmap spanning 2021 to 2026, and empowered the Management of NBC to define a clear and collective direction to achieve the mandate.

In line with this, he said, the College has expanded course offerings, introduced new programmes, enhanced infrastructure, and ensured continuous investment in faculty development.

“Today, as we commemorate NBC’s 30th anniversary, we will not only celebrate past achievements, but also look forward to a future filled with promise, innovation, and continued growth,” he said.

“Over the past 30 years, a strong Governance and Oversight structure has beenestablished and implemented by the Governing Council.

Through the setup of specialised Committees(such as Finance and Administration, Technical, and Audit and Governance), theCouncil plays a pivotal role with diligent oversight in all aspects of operations,” he added.

This, he said, has ensured that the Banking College operates within the legal and regulatory frameworks, safeguarding its reputation and building stakeholder trust.

Transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct are other hallmarks that the Council holds in high regard, and all these have become embedded in the governance framework.

“Additionally, NBC has built partnerships over the years and collaborated with otherstakeholders to enrich the educational offerings, faculty development, and studentopportunities.”

Current Achievements

He said “As we celebrate the College’s exceptional progress, let me highlight remarkableachievements chalked over the past 30 years.

Forinstance, the number of programmes offered by the College has increased from 69 in2018 to 165 in 2023, while participation jumped from 2,828 banking professionals andnon-bank participants to 5,751 over the same period.”

Additionally, the College has upgraded its IT infrastructure to improve programme contentand delivery that match up with the expectations of stakeholders, as well asmonitoring and evaluation of training activities.

In addition, the College faculties undertake research of financial institutions, to develop programmes that address uniquely identified challenges.

As part of efforts to incorporate best practices, expert knowledge and programme relevance, the College has established partnerships with subject matter experts and institutions, both locally and internationally, to bring the much-needed exposure to the doorsteps of all stakeholders.

Way Forward for NBC

“Our commitment to infrastructural development cannot be overemphasized.Continuous improvement in the physical facilities, leveraging technology, and researchresources for participants has enhanced the College’s appeal as an excellent worldclass learning environment that fosters growth, innovation, and success.

In improving its operations, the College is also working assiduously to ensure revenue sustainability through internally generated funds.

The NBC’s strategic plan provides a clear roadmap to the year 2026, and the Governing Council believes that with the needed support, Management will efficiently execute the plan.