Zenith Bank Ghana Limited Saturday night emerged Ghana's Best Bank for 2008, winning the ultimate and four other awards at the 8th Ghana Banking Awards. Zenith was also adjudged the best bank in Financial Performance and came first runner-up in two award categories; Growing Bank and Best Short Term Financing, and capped a night of rewarding achievements with a second runner-up award in Retail Banking. The impressive awards ceremony held at the Accra International Conference Centre, saw a heavy attendance by industry bigwigs, including the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, who was special guest and keynote speaker. A citation by event organisers - Corporate Initiative Ghana, in collaboration with the Association of Ghana Industries and the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce - said the Bank of the Year award is awarded to the bank with the highest weighted scores for customer survey, corporate social responsi­bility and financial performance. The annual awards seeks to engender keen competition amongst banks operat­ing in the country and ultimately improve the quality and efficiency of financial services delivery to Ghana's banking population. Messrs KPMG, the reputed research institution, was responsible for data collection and analysis. Cal Bank Ltd won awards in seven categories while First Atlantic Merchant Bank Ltd, also won awards in five categories. Cal Bank won top place in Best Bank in Medium Term Loan Financing, Best Bank in Product Innovation, as well as Best Bank in Retail Banking. It came first runner up in Best Bank in IT/Electronic Banking, and picked 2nd runner up awards in Best Bank in Corporate Banking, Best Bank in Long term Loan Financing, Best Bank in Advisory Services. First Atlantic won first place in Trade Finance and Corprate Banking and was 1st runner-up in Long Term Loan Financing and Advisory Services, and won second runner-up in Customer Care. Other award winners include Unibank Ghana, Ghana Commercial Bank, United Bank for Africa, Prudential Bank, Fidelity Bank, HFC Bank, Amal Bank, The Trust Bank Standard Chartered Bank, Ecobank and the Agricultural Development Bank. Story by Isaac Yeboah/Myjoyonline.com