The Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FirstBank, Olusegun Alebiosu, has reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to partnering with the government to deliver long-term, inclusive and sustainable economic development.
During a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama in Accra recently, the Group CEO stated that Ghana’s economic fundamentals, youthful population and strategic regional position presented immense opportunities for accelerated growth.
Mr Alebiosu was accompanied by the Managing Director/CEO of FirstBank Ghana, Victor Yaw Asante, and the Deputy Managing Director of FirstBank Ghana, Osahon Ogieva.
Long-term vision
Mr Alebiosu stressed that FirstBank’s presence in Ghana was anchored on a long-term vision to support the country’s development priorities through financing, capacity building and innovative solutions tailored to emerging national needs.
“As an African, I am deeply invested in the success of this continent, not just economically, but in the lives and aspirations of our people.
“Ghana stands at a pivotal moment, and President Mahama’s ambitious vision for infrastructure expansion, agricultural revitalisation, industrial parks, and the 24-Hour Economy presents a transformative pathway for inclusive growth,” Mr Alebiosu stated.
He further emphasised that the bank was ready to take a leading role in supporting key sectors that drove national wealth creation.
“FirstBank is committed to being more than a financial institution; we aim to be a strategic development partner.
We are ready to collaborate with the government to empower SMEs, support youth-led enterprises and strengthen the productive sectors that are essential for Ghana’s future.
“With the right energy solutions, including decentralised district-level power units and small thermal plants, as demonstrated in China’s rural industrialisation model, we can unleash a new wave of light manufacturing and rural development.
“FirstBank will continue to stand firmly with Ghana as it advances toward a more competitive, resilient, and prosperous future,” Mr Alebiosu added.
Big Push
President Mahama, in his remarks, welcomed FirstBank’s strong interest in supporting national development initiatives and commended the bank for its leadership in Ghana’s financial services sector.
He outlined several priority programmes that the government aims to accelerate, beginning with the Big Push Initiative, a major infrastructure programme expected to inject GH¢13.8 billion into the national economy.
The initiative focuses on roads, housing, industrial facilities and key social infrastructure.
President Mahama stressed that banks will be central players in these efforts, especially through financing structures backed by guaranteed government payment mechanisms.
Private sector
Turning to agriculture, the President revealed that Ghana possessed 40,000 hectares of irrigable land, but only about 10 per cent was currently being cultivated.
He explained that the government was engaging private-sector partners to incentivise the full-scale development of the lands, with the objective of achieving food self-sufficiency, reducing imports, and expanding agro-processing.
President Mahama also highlighted the government’s commitment to accelerating industrialisation through the establishment of industrial parks in every region, with plans to extend them to the district level.
He stated that those parks would unlock new opportunities for value addition, job creation and export diversification.
On the 24-Hour Economy, the President disclosed that the existing secretariat would soon be converted into a statutory authority.
He added that the Development Bank Ghana (DBG) was being positioned to lead financing strategies for businesses adopting extended operations, while commercial banks such as FirstBank were expected to provide complementary, affordable financing to support participation in the policy.
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