UEW Explores Strategic Partnership with Absa Bank

Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, Vice-Chancellor of UEW, underscored the vast potential of such a collaboration, highlighting UEW’s regular student population of about 38,000, a staff strength of 1,700 and the wider Winneba community of over 55,000 residents. He emphasised that the presence of a banking agency on campus would bring substantial benefits to both the University and the community.

Prof. Mitchual further drew attention to UEW’s commitment to inclusivity, particularly in supporting special needs students and invited Absa to consider Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives that would enhance the lives of such learners. He also pointed to pressing infrastructure needs including new ICT and science laboratories, a library and a business block, suggesting that flexible financing arrangements could help address them.

“We are a very friendly and professional institution and we look forward to proposals that will be thoroughly scrutinised to ensure transparent and mutually beneficial outcomes,” he assured.

The Absa team, led by Mr. Maxwell Mensah, Cash Sales Manager, expressed appreciation for the warm reception and reiterated the bank’s readiness to partner with UEW in providing tailored banking solutions. He noted that Absa which evolved from Barclays Bank, boasts over 108 years of banking experience and currently operates in 12 African countries with more than 42,000 employees.

Mr. Mensah outlined opportunities for student empowerment including financial literacy programmes, entrepreneurial training, internships and national service placements. He also assured the University of seamless school fee collection through Absa’s multiple channels—branches, USSD codes and digital integration—emphasising that payments would be reflected immediately in UEW’s accounts to avoid disruptions in student registration and services.

Adding to this, Mr. Edward Aboagye, Head of Public Sector at Absa Bank Ghana, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to competitive financing and student support. He revealed that Absa offers scholarships and prioritises inclusion, noting his keen interest in supporting students with disability. He also explained Absa’s customised property financing solutions including long-term infrastructure support for hostels and other facilities, structured through special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to safeguard university finances.

“We understand the growth aspirations of universities and we are ready to design financing models that balance sustainability with development,” he noted.

Arc. Grace Oppong Peprah, Director of Works and Physical Development, presented UEW’s banking enclave project, designed to host multiple banks within a modern facility. She emphasised that the initiative, similar to that at KNUST, was aimed at attracting healthy competition while widening access to banking services for the University community. With a student population providing guaranteed patronage, she encouraged Absa to secure slots in the facility, highlighting the long-term value of engaging students early in their financial journey.

During the interactive session, Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah, Acting Registrar of UEW, sought clarification on Absa’s fee collection platform and its compatibility with UEW’s existing system. The Absa team assured her of seamless integration, stressing that their solutions were designed to complement and enhance institutional systems.

The meeting ended on a positive note with both parties expressing optimism about the prospects of collaboration. The potential partnership is expected to strengthen student support services, enhance financial management and contribute to UEW’s infrastructure development drive thereby advancing the University’s mission of delivering transformative and inclusive higher education in Ghana.