At the 2026 Ghana Banking Conference, organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana, Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu urged the country’s banks to harness emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, to strengthen operations and retain competitiveness in a fast‑evolving financial landscape. The event, themed “Banking on the Future: Trust, Technology and Transformation,” highlighted the macroeconomic stability as a launchpad for the sector to reposition itself and support Ghana’s broader economic transformation.
Iddrisu stressed that technology must translate into improved services and greater financial inclusion, while also calling for stronger financial literacy at the basic education level to equip young people with the knowledge to make informed financial decisions. He framed the call as an opportunity for banks to innovate while maintaining trust.
Dr Ellen Ohene‑Afoakwa, President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana, echoed the need for continuous professional development amid rapid industry changes. She explained that the conference aimed to equip bankers with the knowledge and competencies required to respond to emerging developments, prioritising professional development, ethical conduct and technological advancement.
Chief Executive Robert Dzato added that trust—character, competence and conduct—remains essential for the banking industry. He warned banks to collaborate with stakeholders to address emerging risks such as fraud and cybersecurity threats, and announced the institute’s intention to submit proposals to review the Chartered Institute of Bankers Act, 2019, to better reflect the expanded scope of the industry.
Deborah Asmah, Chief Marketing and Operations Officer at Npontu Technologies, cautioned that banks risk losing significant business opportunities if they fail to adopt tokenisation and AI. She urged financial institutions to move beyond discussion and integrate emerging solutions into their operations, noting that AI offers both opportunities and risks for fraud detection and cybersecurity. Asmah also highlighted the growing competition from non‑traditional banking channels and urged banks to leverage regulatory opportunities, training and partnerships to protect their market position.
The conference brought together banking professionals, policymakers, regulators and industry experts to deliberate on the future of financial services, with discussions focusing on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, virtual assets, stablecoins, tokenisation, digital transformation and ethical leadership.
Banking leaders now face a clear directive: adopt AI and related technologies to enhance service delivery, expand financial inclusion and safeguard trust in an increasingly digital economy.
