The President Akufo-Addo has applauded the contribution of Zenith Bank to the deepening of financial intermediation in the country.

Describing it as “a pan-African Bank”, the President said institutions like Zenith Bank with encouragement and support can bring the African continent together for the future prosperity of her people.

The President made these comments at the commissioning of the new headquarters of Zenith Bank at Ridge in Accra.

Explaining the rationale for his presence at the ceremony, the President said, “what is going on here [at Zenith Bank] ticks of so many boxes that are important to me, and I thought I should come here and show my solidarity with what is going on here.”

The President noted that, in the example of Jim Ovia, founder of Zenith Bank, “we have, first of all, the example of a dynamic entrepreneur, who has built this company, which has gone global. It is in South Africa, England, China, and several places in Africa.”

President Akufo-Addo in a handshake with Zenith Bank's founder Jim Ovia

“The initiative and sense of risk-taking and entrepreneurship that Zenith Bank represents is what, I believe, will drive our country and our continent forward. We need many more Jim Ovia. The more the merrier,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo also congratulated Zenith Bank for paying attention to another important aspect of Ghana’s development – education of young people – through its scholarship facility at the Ashesi University.

He described the initiative as “tremendous, and I applaud him very much for it.”

The President assured the bank of government’s maximum support and wished all those associated with Zenith Bank the best of luck in the coming years.