GCB Bank, University of Cambridge partner to hold confab

GCB Bank PLC, Ghana’s first indigenous bank, in collaboration with King’s College and the Faculty of History at the University of Cambridge, sponsored an authors’ conference on the Political Economy of Ghana in the Long Twentieth Century, 1891-2010, on July 26th and 27^th 2023. The conference sponsorship is part of the Thought Leadership programmes of GCB’s Platinum Anniversary celebrations, aimed at comprehensively examining Ghana’s political economy.

The historical era under review at the conference spans the commencement of regular cocoa exports in 1891 and the beginning of petroleum exports in 2010. Keynote speaker, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, joined several scholars specialising in development studies, economics, economic history, history, and political science for the two-day event.

Professor Gareth Austin and Dr Kofi Adjepong-Boateng from the University of Cambridge, who were key to the organisation of the conference also presented papers on “Dynamics of Cocoa Cultivation in Ghana, 1891-2010” and “Foundational Debates on Central Banking in the Gold Coast.” respectively. Other scholars who presented papers included Cyrelene Amoah-Boampong, Nana Yaw Sapong, Emmanuel Abbey, Emmanuel Adu-Danso, (all from the University of Ghana), Professor Akua Opokua Britwum (University of Cape Coast). Several other speakers from universities in the United States, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Germany also participated Includeing Ravi Kanbur (Cornell) and Paul Nugent (Edinburgh). They presented papers on topics such as the unevenness of the distribution of benefits of economic growth, the evolving share of female ownership in different economic sectors, the apparent paradox of economic growth in Ghana with only very limited structural change and the role that small-scale gold mining had played in Ghana was established.

The conference proceedings will be revised for publication and form part of GCB’s 70th Anniversary celebrations heritage contributions to the development of banking in Ghana. The published book will be a significant source of information and knowledge for scholars, researchers, academics, policymakers, and policy analysts in Ghana and other parts of the world. The conference outcomes will therefore serve as a foundation upon which Ghana’s economy can accelerate and pave the way for further progress.

Speaking to the sponsorship, GCB Bank’s Chairman of the Board of Directors stated, ” GCB Bank has been part of Ghana’s history and economic development since its inception in May 1953. As part of our 70th anniversary celebrations and our general efforts to share information on the Bank’s impact and contribution going forward, GCB Bank has been exploring collaboration opportunities with reputable institutions for Thought Leadership Programmes which will help shape the conversations and actions relating to our economy. Through this collaboration with the University of Cambridge, we aim to leverage the University’s expertise, reach and resources, as well as the Bank’s role as a key player in Ghana’s financial history, our contributions and plans for the future to highlight the relevant commitments which Ghana needs in order to register a significant improvement in its development. We will sustain and build on this collaboration beyond our 70th anniversary celebrations with the intention to continue to improve on our contribution to the general development of Ghana”.

The GCB team was led by its Board Chairman, Mr. Jude Arthur; Managing Director, Mr Kofi Adomakoh and it included Non-Executive Directors; Mrs. Lydia Gyamra Essah, Mr. Kwaku Asirifi and Nana Ayensua Saara and Executive Business Manager, Mr. Kofi Osei-Asibey. Professor Priscilla Twumasi-Baffour of the Economics Department of the University of Ghana joined the GCB Team to participate in the conference.

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