My favourite quote is ‘make hay while the sun shines’. It speaks to me having a vision, keeping focused and taking action to achieve my goals. I also believe in the mantra ‘when opportunity meets preparation, the result is success’. This reminds me to always prepare for future opportunities.
I am currently chief risk officer and a member of the executive committee of the Bank of Africa Ghana, with over 18 years’ experience and expertise in the banking industry. I am also a non-executive director on the boards of Guinness Ghana Breweries and Savvy Securities. My roles at the bank and on boards is challenging. However, I make time for these equally demanding roles through effective planning and teamwork.
Pivoting from science into banking and finance was a step out of my comfort zone
I was inspired to become an accountant by a desire to contribute better to the balance sheet management in my institution, and also to increase my suitability for boardroom roles. My ACCA qualification, which I gained in 2019, also equipped me with the confidence to venture into risk management, which was a key requirement for my appointment onto some boards. I also hold an MBA in finance and risk management, along with four other professional qualifications.
After completing my BSc biochemistry degree in 2004, I initially worked for Unilever Ghana. After a year, I left to pursue a career in banking, starting out at Guaranty Trust Bank.
In 2008 I joined Amalgamated Bank, now Bank of Africa, and was subsequently promoted to head of its treasury department. In this role, I was credited with transforming the department and turning it into a key strategic business unit, which contributed significantly to the turnaround of the bank. This has given me a strong reputation in leadership and for developing high-performance teams.
The advantage of building your career predominantly at one company is being able to rise through the ranks to the top by grasping the vision and challenges of the company and then contributing in a positive way. There is also an advantage in having both the institutional memory and understanding of the company culture, which helps in leadership.
I have a curious mind, and love to investigate and analyse things
I stepped out of my comfort zone early on in my career by successfully pivoting from science into banking and finance. Taking the relevant courses, having a mindset of excellence and being hands-on helped me in this transition. I also switched from treasury after 15 years and went into risk management. Again, a continuous improvement mindset, teamwork and personal resilience were key.
My greatest accomplishment has been developing high-performance teams, both earlier as head of treasury and now as chief risk officer, and also a track record of high achievement generally. I am also proud of winning first position in the ACCA Advanced Financial Management paper and 23rd position globally in 2019, as well as third best graduate overall in Ghana. I am a member of ACCA’s Global Forum for Governance, Risk and Performance, which has given me the opportunity to be involved in risk research and contribute to improvement in risk standards globally.
If I had law-making powers, governments would be required to have a long-term sustainable development plan and stick to it, despite any changes in government. This would ensure a sustained holistic development and not just short-term fixes aimed at winning elections.
If I was not in finance, I would like to have been a forensic scientist or investigative journalist. I have a curious mind, and love to investigate and analyse things in order to contribute to a better world for everyone.
In my spare time I am a mentor, mainly to young female executives who want to reach greater heights in the corporate world. I am also a member of the Executive Women Network, where I advocate for women executives and entrepreneurs in Ghana.
