GCB Bank Pledges Support for UEW’s 2027 Public Lecture Series
Mr. Farihan Alhassan, the Managing Director of GCB Bank PLC, has reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), in delivering a successful 2027 Public Lecture Series, signalling stronger collaboration between the two institutions.
Mr. Alhassan gave the assurance when a ten-member UEW delegation, led by Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, the Vice-Chancellor, paid a courtesy call on him at the bank’s headquarters in Accra on Thursday, 8th October, 2026.
He said the bank would review the proposed budget for the lecture series and collaborate with the University to make the event another success, reiterating a commitment he made during his earlier visit to UEW.
“In terms of the public lectures, I made that commitment when I came to visit. So, let’s review the budget for it and see how we can collaborate to make it another success story for the institution,” he said.
The proposed support is expected to strengthen the University’s flagship public engagement initiative while providing GCB Bank with an opportunity to deepen its relationship with UEW and contribute to teacher education and national development.
Prof. Mitchual expressed appreciation for the bank’s willingness to support the series, noting that the University was eager to build a mutually beneficial partnership rather than a one-sided relationship. He stated that UEW valued GCB Bank’s reputation as a trusted Ghanaian financial institution and was committed to exploring opportunities that would benefit both parties.
He indicated that the 2027 edition of the Public Lecture Series was expected to be significant and expressed hope that GCB Bank could become its sole sponsor. He also highlighted the visibility and institutional value the bank would gain from supporting the initiative.
Mr. Alhassan, in turn, emphasised the importance of investing in education, describing support for education as one of the most significant contributions to national development. He noted that UEW’s role in preparing teachers made its work particularly vital to the country’s educational future.
Beyond the lecture series, the Managing Director identified several areas for further collaboration, including entrepreneurship support, community development and financial services. He expressed the bank’s readiness to explore a partnership with UEW to support an entrepreneurship initiative that could provide trained individuals with seed capital to establish their own ventures.
He also assured the delegation that GCB Bank would work towards deploying an additional automated teller machine (ATM) to better serve the university community. He confirmed plans to establish a branch in Ajumako, with the bank already exploring potential locations near the campus.
Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie, the Finance Officer of UEW, stressed that the proposed partnership should provide benefits to both institutions. He stated that UEW is ready to explore the bank’s financial products and services while encouraging greater engagement with its staff and students.
Mrs. Ekua Abedi-Boafo, the Registrar of UEW, explained that the visit was also intended to formally congratulate Mr. Alhassan on his assumption of office and to reciprocate the courtesy call he had previously made to the University.
The meeting is part of UEW’s efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships with Ghanaian institutions and to mobilise support for its academic, public engagement and community development initiatives.
