Nnamdi Okonkwo, Outgoing Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa Ghana Limited has bid farewell to the Ghanaian banking industry, leaving an astonishing legacy of immense banking expansion. Mr. Okonkwo, who touched Ghana some three years ago, has spearheaded UBA’s democratization of banking in Ghana by increasing its branches from six to 26. Presently the bank has branches in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Tema and Aflao. In Accra, UBA has branches at Abossey Okai, Abeka Lapaz, Dzorwulu, Motorway and Accra Central among others while in Kumasi, it has branches at Adum, Kejetia, and Suame among others. At a farewell ceremony on Wednesday evening, Mr. Okonkwo commended the board for the professional advice given to his management which has put the financial intermediary on the path of growth. He noted that his tenure at the bank’s highest position was quite challenging but he was able to surmount them. He added that his term saw the introduction of electronic products such as Wise Alert and TextMe Cash which were the first in the banking industry. He therefore urged customers and all Ghanaians to showcase the same support they gave him to his successor Gabriel Edgal, adding that the new CEO will continue with existing programmes and add new and exciting ones. The new MD, Gabriel Edgal on his part, informed Ghanaians and customers of UBA’s new approach of bringing banking to the doorsteps of Ghanaians. Mr. Edgal called for God’s protection on Mr. Okonkwo who will leave any moment from now for Nigeria. Before he was appointed MD of the Ghana subsidiary of the bank, Mr. Okonwko was a UBA’s Project Director responsible for a massive 250 branch roll-out in Nigeria. Also, Mr. Edgal commenced his working career as an engineer in 1989 after obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Benin. In 1993, he transited from engineering to banking and started his banking career with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. Since then, he has acquired various training in Banking and Financial Management and also obtained an MBA from the University of Lagos in 2001. In January 2006, he resumed office as the Group Treasurer of Africa’s Global Bank, UBA; managing the entire Group’s balance sheet & liquidity requirements while contributing immensely to the bank’s profitability via its trading operations. He was the Director of Group Treasury and Investments for the UBA Group. Source: Daily Guide