Republic Bank says plans are underway to establish the bank’s African Headquarters in Ghana.
The Managing Director of Republic Bank Ghana, Farid Antar, stated this on Friday during the inauguration of the bank’s new head office annex.
Dubbed Republic Court, the head office annex is located near the African Union Square, near the Ridge Roundabout.
As part of the programme, the refurbished African Union Square, financed by the Republic Bank was also inaugurated.
Mr Antar explained that the objective of the bank was to use Ghana as the gateway to enter other Africa countries and the world market.
Republic Bank, a subsidiary of the Republic Bank Holdings Limited from Trinidad and Tobago, entered the Ghanaian market in 2012 when it acquired the then HFC Bank and subsequently rebranded to Republic Bank.
Mr Antar said the bank had set a target to become a tier-one bank in the next three years and the inauguration of the head office was one of the first steps to help to achieve that target.
“Today marks a new journey. A journey to becoming a Tier 1 bank in Ghana, a journey to growing an African presence and a journey to be more resourceful and valuable to the people of Ghana. Our strategic location here breeds business confidence, goodwill and increased brand equity, which are necessary fundamentals to grow to be a Tier 1 bank in Ghana in the next three years,” he said.
He said the construction of the new head office annex demonstrated that Republic Bank was in Ghana for a long haul and a force to reckon with.
“Today, at the heart of the city of Accra, lies the citadel of hope for the Republic Bank brand in Ghana and Africa. The Republic Court; an enviable, imposing and magnificent design of a building. A statement to Ghana that we are here to stay, to Ghanaians that we are the one for them and to the Banking Industry that we are indeed a force to reckon with,” Mr Antar, said.
He said the journey for the head office started in 2019 when a staff of the bank identified the location during one of the marketing outreach of the bank.
The Managing Director indicated that in keeping with the bank’s commitment to net zero emissions the building had an energy management system for lighting and air conditioning to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the environment.
He indicated that the bank was ready to partner the government to achieve economic objectives and to contribute to the development of the Ghanaian society.
The Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, who inaugurated the building commended the board and management for the decision to construct the head office annex.
“As a former banker myself, I know without a doubt that, what we are witnessing today is the outcome of a dream some years ago and sustained efforts to realise this dream. Therefore, the board and management of this great bank, who conceived the idea and devoted considerable resources and energies deserve special commendation,” he said.
The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Addison, commended Republic Bank for the construction of the head office annex and the inroads it was making in the banking industry.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE