Republic Bank Ghana PLC on Friday 28th January, 2022 opened its ultra-modern 21st Century state of the art edifice branded ‘The Republic Court’ which is located at the heart of the city of Accra the Independence Avenue, opposite the AU Square.
The Republic Court represents a unique enviable, imposing and magnificent design of a building.
Gracing the historic sea-blue colourful occasion was the Senior Advisor to the President Mr. Osafo Maafo who represented the President; Governor of Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison; Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Henry Quartey; Accra Mayor, Hon. Elizabeth Sackey; Member of Parliament for the Klottey Korle Constituency, Hon. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.
Others were Regional Police Commander, DCOP Iddi Lansah Seidu; Municipal Chief Executive, KoKMA Hon. Nii Adjei Tawiah; the Honorary Consul, Trinidad and Tobago, Hon. Hilton John Mitchell; Board Chairman of Republic Bank Ghana – Mr. Charles William Zwennes; Directors of Republic Bank Ghana Board, Executives and Staff of Republic Bank.
Republic Bank has been in existence for the past 184 years as a Brand that has held on to the belief that a small step is better than no step at all.
Republic Bank is a bank built with an African blood, flourishing at the coast of the Caribbean, which dreamt of coming back to Africa. The dream was to establish and build an African brand.
It took the bold step in 2012 when Republic Bank formed a strategic partnership with the then HFC Bank and by 2018 it had firmly established its presence in Ghana by rebranding to Republic Bank.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Senior Advisor to the President Mr. Osafo Maafo who represented the President, commended the Bank for its growth over the years and support to government in combatting the covid-19 pandemic in the country.
“I am excited today for what you have achieved for yourselves. Once again on behalf of the President H.E Nana Akufo Addo, I congratulate the Board, the Executives, Management and Staff for the tremendous progress you have made over the years.
I encourage you to continue this trajectory and be the best you can. We look forward to partner you on many projects to the benefit of Ghana, Ghanaians and your brand, the Republic Bank”, the Senior Advisor emphasized.
He also indicated that the Bank has for a very long time partnered government in the public sector mortgage scheme adding that the Bank was a key player during the development and implementation of the National Housing and Mortgage Fund which he said was Instituted under the presidency of Nana Akufo Addo.
He added that “this Fund continues to provide public sector workers with affordable mortgage loans highly subsidized by government”.
The former Senior Minister later commended the Bank for its partnership in the beautification project of Accra by adopting the African Union Square for greening and maintenance.
“Evidently I can see lots of progress at the AU Square. Thank you for supporting the agenda and showing love to Ghana”, Mr. Maafo stressed.
The Managing Director of Republic Bank Mr. Fareed Antar, on his part, revealed that the Republic Bank in its 184 years of existence globally, has held on to a belief that “a small start is better than no start at all”.
He revealed that the acquisition of the edifice at the time was noted to be the largest single investment by the Bank.
He commended the Bank for its growth rate adding that the comparative performance of the bank shows a significant growth in its asset and deposit.
He said the Bank achieved a 16.6% deposit growth due to its visibility and attainment of a 19.8% capital adequacy ratio which he said is above the requirement.
The Board Chairman of the Bank Mr. Charles Zwennes revealed that the Bank has been able to grow its business to be one of the largest financial institutions in the country.
“I recall the journey from HFC Bank days to Republic Bank; then meeting the minimum capital requirements, all the investments made to retool the Bank, our corporate Governance Structure, Leadership, Human Resources and today, seeing this beautiful edifice-Republic Court
We owe it to our customers who continue to repose their confidence in us and to Management and staff for your hard work.
I am proud of what we have achieved for ourselves and the future we have charted for the Republic bank brand in Ghana”, Mr. Zwennes emphasized.
The Board Chairman later assured government that its adoption of the AU Square which has already seen a facelift by the Bank will be in the safest pair of hands adding it will be maintained to be one of the iconic sites in Ghana.
