The Ghana Commercial Bank, GCB, has acquired a certification to issue MasterCard in Ghana. It has thus become the first bank in Ghana to acquire a principal certification for the global brand. GCB with its 135 networked branches and 10 agencies will sponsor affiliates and work with merchants as well as customers to roll out the various types of MasterCard including debits, credit and pre-paid. A delegation from MasterCard International is currently in the country to finalize preparations to enable the bank introduce the card. The Head of Marketing and Card Business at GCB, Alhaji Hussein Ibn Salifu has told JOY News that the bank will launch the MasterCard before the end of the year, explaining that with the introduction of MasterCard, customers of GCB will have access to their accounts in any part of the world. GCB's association with MasterCard dates back to the years when it introduced the first prepaid card, Mondex, another product of MasterCard. The bank officials say their electronic payment system will be integrated into the domestic platform being sponsored by the Bank of Ghana.