Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd.(OISL), a leading Savings and Loans company in Ghana, hosted the Africa Chapter Meeting of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) at the Labadi Beach Hotel on 18^th and 19^th September.

The event brought together leaders from the Banking community, Financial Service Providers and other stakeholders to explore how values-driven finance can foster a more inclusive and sustainable financial system.

The GABV is a global network of independent banks committed to using finance as a force for sustainable economic, social, and environmental impact.

The African Chapter is made up of seven Banks and Financial institutions from five countries across Africa, with Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd being the only member in Ghana.

The event was graced by prominent leaders including Ismail Adam, Head of Banking Supervision at the Bank of Ghana, who represented the Governor as the Special Guest of Honour; Alberta Quarcoopome, Board Chairperson of OISL and Chairperson for the event; Martin Rohner, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values; Fabian Kassi, Managing Director of Centenary Bank, Uganda and also the chairman for the Africa Chapter of GABV; Kwame Owusu-Boateng, CEO of OISL.

Other Board Members of OISL; and representatives from the Ghana Association of Savings and Loans Companies (GHASALC), Ghana Microfinance Institutions Network (GHAMFIN), Development Bank Ghana (DBG), Turaco, and other financial institutions.

Speaking at the event, Mr Ismail Adam emphasised the critical role of the banking sector in driving economic growth and enhancing livelihoods.

He urged financial institutions to intensify efforts to drive positive change and deepen financial inclusion in support of national development.

“Financial institutions should adopt inclusive, community-driven strategies that prioritise long-term impact over short-term gains.

"This includes investing in financial literacy, leveraging technology, forming strategic partnerships like Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd. is doing with GABV, and embedding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into core policies,” Mr Adam emphasised.

The Executive Director for GABV, Martin Rohner, spoke on the responsible use of technology in the sector, urging financial institutions to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) ethically to support the provision of financial services.

Fabian Kassi, Managing Director of Centenary Bank in Uganda, called for a stronger alignment between profitability and social impact, stressing the need for the banking industry to focus on sustainable solutions that directly improve the lives of customers.

The CEO for Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd., Kwame Owusu-Boateng, highlighted the importance of adhering to strong ethics and banking standards to build trust with customers.

The Chairperson for the occasion, Alberta Quarcoopome, in her closing remarks, challenged other financial institutions to demonstrate greater responsibility in the delivery of financial services and to join hands in championing the values and principles of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV).

The Africa Chapter Meeting served as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing among values-based financial institutions, reinforcing the call for a more inclusive, ethical, and sustainable banking system across the continent.