The Ghana Financial Intermediation (GFI) Awards has honoured the CEO and Group Chairman of the Afro-Arab Group of Companies, Alhaji Salamu Amadu, with a top personality award as an Outstanding Young Financial Intermediation CEO, at the maiden edition of the awards initiative.
The award scheme, which was organized by the Business Executive Magazine, recognized and awarded top financial intermediation institutions and individuals who stand out from their peers across a wide range of aspects of their core activities, especially taking of deposits and giving of loans, among other financial assistance services.
Alhaji Amadu, was honoured due to the outstanding financial contributions he has made to support Zongo and rural communities as well as to youth development before and after COVID-19.
Alhaji Amadu, who also doubles as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, commended the organizers of the awards programme for putting together such a reputable award scheme of high integrity and indicated how he holds the award in high esteem.
“I am very happy to be here today and also grateful to the organizers of this award scheme. This year the Afro-Arab Microfinance will celebrate its 10th anniversary and we all know how many microfinance companies lost their license, so this award means a lot to us. We are focused on our core mandate as an organization and we will continue to serve our clients and bring them the best of products and innovative services they require,” he said.
According to him, as part of the Afro-Arab Microfinance’s 10th anniversary, funding has been secured from Ecobank for a women empowerment programme dubbed Elevate. As the name denotes, it is aimed at assisting enterprising women to grow and expand their businesses.
He further added that the Afro-Arab Microfinance was established by himself at the age of 24 and his vision is to establish branches in all the Zongo communities and inner cities because from the Zongo where he was born and raised, financial inclusion is a major challenge and it is his heart desire to try and address that.
He concluded by saying that he desires that the Afro-Arab Microfinance grows to be more than a bank but still stay at the microfinance level to help the poor and the good people of Ghana.
The GFI awards held at the Tang Palace Hotel, was graced by special guests including Commissioner General of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rev. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah; High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to Ghana, Francess Virginia Anderson; Non-Executive Director, Financial Inclusion Forum Africa, Jacqueline Dufie Mpare; and Executive Director of Finance and Regional CFO ABSA Bank, Antoinette Kwofie.
The other awardees included Bank of Africa Ghana; Mukesh Thakwani, CEO, B5 Plus; Paul Atsu Fiawoo, General Manager Asubonteng Rural Bank; TF Financial Services; Asutifi Rural Bank; Bonzali Rural Banks; Republic Bank Ghana PLC; BESSFA Rural Bank; Atwima Kwanwoma Rural Bank; EV Microfinance; CIDAN Capital Microfinance; Bidvest Microfinance LTD; The Mint Microfinance and Kintampo Rural Bank.
