The Group Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu, has reaffirmed the Bank’s firm commitment to partnering with the Government of Ghana to deliver long-term, inclusive, and sustainable economic development.
He gave the assurance during a high-level courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama.
Opening the discussions, Mr Alebiosu noted that Ghana’s economic fundamentals, youthful population, and strategic regional position presented immense opportunities for accelerated growth.
He stressed that FirstBank’s presence in Ghana is 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 added.
He emphasised that FirstBank is ready to take a leading role in supporting key sectors that drive 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.”
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 aimed to accelerate, beginning with the Big Push Initiative, a major infrastructure programme expected to inject GHS13.8 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.
Huge irrigable land not cultivated
Turning to agriculture, President Mahama revealed that Ghana possesses 40,000 hectares of irrigable land, but only about 10 per cent is currently being cultivated.
He explained that the government is engaging private-sector partners to incentivise the full-scale development of these lands, to achieve food self-sufficiency, reduce 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 these parks to the district level.
He noted that these parks will unlock new opportunities for value addition, job creation, and export diversification.
2024-hour economy
On the 24-Hour Economy, the President disclosed that the existing secretariat will soon be converted into a statutory authority.
He added that the Development Bank Ghana (DBG) is being positioned to lead financing strategies for businesses adopting extended operations, while commercial banks such as FirstBank are expected to provide complementary, affordable financing to support participation in the policy.
Mr Alebiosu was accompanied by Mr Victor Yaw Asante, Managing Director/CEO of FirstBank Ghana, and Mr Osahon Ogieva, Deputy Managing Director of FirstBank Ghana.
