Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC and the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide professional training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes for staff of the bank, in a move aimed at bridging the gap between academia and industry.
The agreement, which was formalised at the bank’s head office in Accra on Monday, September 7, 2026, will see UPSA design and deliver tailor-made training programmes to enhance the competencies of Republic Bank employees and improve workplace performance.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC, Dr Benjamin Dzoboku, described the partnership as a reflection of how academia and industry can come together to address the gap that exists between the two sectors while bridging knowledge and practice for meaningful impact.
“Human resources are a critical asset for every nation and institution, and we cannot do without human resources,” Dr Dzoboku stated.
“If any organisation wants to shape the future and achieve sustainable growth, human resources are critical. At Republic Bank Ghana, we value our staff so much, and we think this is critical for leadership development because we want to leave a legacy for the next generation,” he added.
Dr Dzoboku, who is an alumnus of UPSA, expressed confidence in the university’s ability to help develop the bank’s staff, noting that when academia and industry skills converge, the impact on the institution becomes significant.
He added that the success of the partnership would ultimately be measured by the quality of products and services delivered to customers and the skill set acquired by staff.
“I am looking forward to the first cohort and the subsequent ones that will follow,” he said. “On behalf of the board, my management staff, and the entire staff body, I look forward to a great partnership and impactful leadership training that will help my staff to develop, innovate, and grow this institution.”
Professor Samuel Antwi, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge Transfer at UPSA, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, at the ceremony, said the partnership was aimed at bringing industry closer to academia while taking academic expertise to the doorstep of industry.
He noted that one of the key highlights of the MoU was for UPSA to provide professional training and CPD programmes for Republic Bank staff.
“Sometimes, when we get out of school for some time and we are always on the job, there are new things that come up that we may miss out on,” Professor Antwi explained.
“This is the key reason why UPSA is very happy to partner with Republic Bank to give that professional training to bank staff.”
Professor Antwi described UPSA as a professional university well-positioned to provide the required training and expertise, adding that the MoU would also cover other mutually beneficial areas, including business arrangements and additional forms of collaboration between the two institutions.
He highlighted the connection between the two institutions, noting that the Managing Director of Republic Bank is an alumnus of UPSA. “For us, it is Republic Bank–UPSA in action,” he said.
“We want to believe that this MoU signing today will yield fruits to both parties, especially to Republic Bank when they need to show value to their shareholders,” Professor Antwi added.
“We are a public institution. We provide service, but we know that UPSA always gives excellent service. I want to assure Republic Bank management that your staff will come back giving testimonies.”
Both institutions have committed to working together to implement the MoU effectively and leverage their respective expertise to support staff development and sustainable institutional growth.
Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC, a subsidiary of Republic Financial Holdings Limited of Trinidad and Tobago, was incorporated in 1990 and listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange in 1995.
The bank was formerly known as HFC Bank (Ghana) Limited before rebranding in 2018. UPSA, established in 1965, is a public university dedicated to blending scholarship with professionalism and is the first university in Ghana to provide both academic and business professional education.
By Kingsley Asiedu
